1. Ted Chudleigh
11530-17th SR
Georgetown, ON
L7G 4S6
October 6, 2014
Hon. Dave Levac, MPP
Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario
Chair of the Board of Internal Economy
Room 180, Main Legislative Building,
Queen's Park
Toronto, Ontario
M7A 1A2
A Statue of The Queen at Queen’s Park
Dear Mr. Speaker:
As you may be aware, The Queen will become the longest-reigning female monarch in world
history on September 10, 2015, when she will surpass Queen Victoria’s all-time record on the
throne, at sixty-three years, two hundred and sixteen days, which has stood since January 1901.
I am writing you because, while there is a magnificent statue of Queen Victoria on the legislative
grounds – the Queen of the Park’s name – that was unveiled in 1902, there will continue to be
none of Elizabeth II, despite the fact that she will have been Sovereign of Canada for almost half
of the country’s entire history since Confederation, a remarkable feat of longevity and dedicated
service to Ontario and Canada.
As you are also no doubt aware, in addition to Her Majesty surpassing this extraordinary
milepost, Ontario will celebrate its 150th anniversary as a founding province on July 1, 2017, the
“sesquicentennial” of Confederation in 1867. Both of these important markers will be reached
during this, the 41st parliament of Ontario.
In order for the first of these two momentous milestones not to pass unnoticed, it would be a
fitting tribute to the legacy and longevity of the Queen if, with your approval, and the approval
of the Board of Internal Economy, such a statue project could be announced on September 10,
2015. That would then leave almost two years to complete the statue itself, for an official
unveiling to happen on July 1, 2017.

2. Of course, a large statue project like this is a major undertaking, and it will rely on having a good
competitive process for the design as well as a strong fundraising campaign and broad political
support. Furthermore, statues of the Queen must be approved in principle and at every stage of
the design process by The Queen herself. The absence of any one of these required elements
would negate its success.
Fortunately, there is a relatively recent, useful and successful precedent that we can rely on. A
Queen’s Golden Jubilee Statue commissioned to commemorate the centennial of Saskatchewan –
a magnificent bronze equestrian of Elizabeth II on her favorite horse, Burmese – was unveiled
with considerable fanfare by Her Majesty in Regina in 2005. Dr. Michael Jackson, CVO, who
was chief of protocol for the Province of Saskatchewan for many years and chaired that
initiative, has been a source of guidance for us in drafting this proposal for your review.
In terms of the overall cost, the final tally of the equestrian statue in Saskatchewan came to
$325,000, and the provincial government contributed $175,000 of it, about fifty percent of the
total bill. We would similarly offer a public campaign to cover part of the costs.
If this proposal meets with your approval in principle, we would immediately establish an
organizing committee with myself as Chair and with representation from a broad coalition of
organizations.
To be really effective on the design and creation of such a work of art, we will need to have
expressions of interest from artists and then some funding for a short list to develop a strong
proposal. Ideally we would want the name of the sculptor commissioned to undertake the work
known by the time the Crown is in a position to formally announce such a project to the general
public next year.
Yours sincerely,
Ted Chudleigh
Chair, Ontario Task Group
Canadian Royal Heritage Trust