With fanfare and a flyover, Amelia Earhart statue returns to Harbour Grace

Garrett Barry shares the journey of the Amelia Earhart statue in Harbour Grace, N.L., now back in its rightful home after being stolen and cut into pieces.

HARBOUR GRACE, N.L. – A stolen, deconstructed and rebuilt statue of Amelia Earhart was unveiled in Harbour Grace, N.L., following extensive repairs to the town’s prized possession.

Dozens of people from the rural community cheered when the statue was unveiled — both at the statue’s home in a community park, and at a celebration at a nearby school gym where a video feed of the unveiling was streamed.

The festive day saw songs, speeches and even an appearance by an Amelia Earhart impersonator.

“Something that kind of puts us on the map, it creates connection and we’re a very strong community,” said Emma Mercer, who performed a speech recounting Earhart’s 1932 transatlantic flight.

“Anything community-based where everyone gets to be a part of something, it becomes a really big deal.”

The statue unveiling capped a bizarre saga that saw the bronze statue stolen last April and cut into relatively precise pieces. Those five pieces were found together in a wooded area near the community by the RCMP in August 2025.

“The RCMP (did) their justice, and they located her, and we got her back,” said Terry Barnes, the mayor of Harbour Grace.

“It’s very iconic and very important that we recognize her every year, and most importantly, that she (was) put back in the place she should be.”

Earhart launched her solo transatlantic flight from Harbour Grace on May 20, 1932. She and her Lockheed Vega aircraft landed in Northern Ireland around 15 hours later, making her the first woman to cross the Atlantic on a solo, non-stop trip.

Newfoundland sculptor Morgan MacDonald was tasked with repairing the statue after the RCMP found it last year.

The unveiling was also marked with a five-plane flyover, organized through a local chapter of the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association.

Longtime Air Canada pilot, Kim Winsor hosted the celebration at the St. Francis School in Harbour Grace.

“It’s a magical place, and it just means so much to me,” said Winsor, who explained she trained on the Harbour Grace airfield and still points out its significance to co-workers.

“Everyone is just like, ‘wow!’ Like they just can’t believe it,” she said. “Aviation history in Harbour Grace starts with Amelia.”

The statue’s return brought a lot of relief to the community, according to Barnes. He said there was suspicion and rumour throughout the town before it was found.

Barnes said the town has installed extra security measures, like enhanced lighting and cameras, to try to prevent further vandalism and theft.

“She was all cut up, but she was put back together,” Barnes said. “As you see today, she’s unveiled up there, better than she was previously.”