Samuel de Champlain statue vandalized within hours of resurrection

When the controversial statue of Samuel de Champlain was returned to its original location for temporary storage, within hours it was vandalized.

Just hours after the Samuel de Champlain statue was reinstalled at Orillia’s Couchiching Beach Park, police were called to the site following an alleged act of vandalism that sparked tensions surrounding the controversial monument.

On Thursday crowds gathered to witness the City of Orillia resurrect the bronze figure of Champlain.

Later that same day, in the wake of the monument’s return, police say a woman was arrested for vandalizing it.

In 2017, the statue and others around it were removed from the park for restoration. Following public outcry, including pushback from members of the First Nations community about how it depicted Champlain and how the other statues depicted Indigenous peoples, the monuments were put in storage.

In April, city council voted against a motion to bring back a redesign of the statue. At that time, the statue was being stored in Etobicoke and Orillia Mayor Don McIsaac claimed it would not return to the city.

WATCH: Council verdict reached on controversial Champlain monument

According to a council information package released Thursday, the statue was brought back to its original location to avoid the cost of having to build a new foundation to carry it.

Due to the statue’s size and weight, building a new foundation elsewhere would have created additional expenses. Returning it to its original base was described by the city as the most practical option and one that aligns with its anticipated long-term location.

The information package presented by council claims protective measures such as shrink wrap and tarping were arranged for to preserve the statue.

“I would say probably 75 per cent of people want it back,” said McIsaac, in an interview with CTV, adding “there’s some who don’t want it back.”

Janet-Lynne Durnford, councillor for ward four in Orillia told CTV News the rest of council were informed about the statue’s return, over an hour after it went up.

“We have not had an accounting from the mayor about what has been spent to date and what the costs of reinstallation, fencing and shrink wrapping were,” Dunford said.

She added she had sent questions to the mayor regarding the matter of cost and has not yet heard back.

“I was just following council direction,” McIsaac said.

The following is Rama’s statement on behalf of Chief and Council.

“Rama First Nation was not informed of this decision, nor were we involved in any discussions regarding the monument’s return.”

Williams added that Rama participated “extensively” in the 2018 discussions when Orillia created the Samuel de Champlain Monument Working Group.

“Our community made it clear that it did not wish to reopen these discussions or relive the experiences that came with them,” he said.

“To have the monument returned in this manner, without notice, disregards not only Rama First Nation’s clearly stated position as the rights holder within this territory, but also the very real harm this process has caused to our people,” said Williams.

In the working group’s final report, part of the council information package, the group claims more than 1,000 people responded to an online survey about what they prefer to happen with the statue.

The group claims 70 per cent of voters chose to see the statue return, with updated interpretation material.

In its recommendations, the working group said in part to bring the statue back and develop additional signage created with participation from First Nations representatives that tells “a historically accurate story of Samuel de Champlain and his relationship with First Nations.”

OPP charged a 33-year-old female from Orillia with mischief, in relation the alleged vandalism incident on Thursday.

“Understanding that hurt does not mean Chief and Council condone acts of vandalism or damage to property. We continue to call for respectful dialogue, transparency, and accountability,” Chief Williams said in his statement to CTV News.

“People are going to start a petition to unwrap it, this remains to be seen, I think the will of the people will always have to prevail,” McIsaac said.

CTV News caught up with Liz Ross, who was visiting the park Friday.

“He’s been shrink-wrapped, which absolutely looks shockingly bad,” Ross said.

“We’re going to have to look at it until who knows when, when a proper decision is taken,” she added.

“I think it’s a very cheeky decision he’s made,” Ross said in regards to the McIsaac’s decision to bring the statue back.

“It’s underhanded and we’re very annoyed by it,” said Ross.