After a five-year hiatus due to previous controversies, work has resumed on the Prime Ministers Path project in Wilmot Township. The park near Castle Kilbride is set to reintroduce five existing bronze portraits and unveil a sixth statue of an unidentified prime minister.
The Prime Ministers Path initiative in Baden has been marred by past controversies. Notably, the statue of Sir John A Macdonald was relocated in 2020 near the township offices following an act of protest where it was splattered with red paint, highlighting Macdonald’s involvement in residential schools. Subsequently, the remaining statues were removed in 2021 and placed in storage. However, in 2025, Wilmot council greenlit the continuation of the project, entrusting Createscape Waterloo Region with its reinstallation.
The project’s objective is to honor all Canadian prime ministers with statues along a path in the park, serving as an educational tool for the public. Initially envisioned as a privately-funded endeavor to create 22 bronze sculptures commemorating past prime ministers for Canada’s 150th anniversary, the project has faced several setbacks but is now nearing completion.
Carolyn Salonen, a retired educator and member of Createscape’s advisory committee, expressed hopes that the pathway and its artwork would spark meaningful conversations. She emphasized the importance of understanding historical figures’ impacts to prevent repeating negative decisions in the future.
Createscape Waterloo Region has assumed responsibility for overseeing the Prime Ministers Path project, including maintenance and potential fundraising for future statues. The group now possesses the nine prime ministers’ statues owned by the township, with plans to display them on municipal parkland for the next two decades.
Don Bourgeois, Chair of Createscape, stressed the significance of comprehending Canada’s history as a foundation for shaping a collective future. The group intends to provide updates on the reinstallation progress and educational resources as the project advances.
Salonen clarified that the statues are not mere memorials but representations of key figures in Canadian history. She envisioned the pathway as a platform for engaging discussions about past decisions made by prime ministers and fostering a deeper understanding of the country’s history and future direction.
The project aims to encourage dialogue and reflection on Canada’s history, with an emphasis on acknowledging past leaders’ legacies and promoting an inclusive and informed future for all Canadians.