Work has commenced on reinstating the Prime Ministers Path project in Wilmot Township after a five-year hiatus due to previous controversies. The park adjacent to Castle Kilbride is set to have five existing bronze portraits re-installed and a new statue of an unidentified prime minister unveiled.
The Prime Ministers Path in Baden has been surrounded by controversy in the past, with the statue of Sir John A Macdonald being relocated in 2020 near the township offices after being vandalized with red paint as a protest against Macdonald’s involvement in residential schools. Subsequently, all statues were removed in 2021 and placed in storage. In 2025, Wilmot council decided to resume the project and handed it over to Createscape Waterloo Region for reinstallation.
The project’s objective is to honor all of Canada’s prime ministers with statues along a pathway in the park, serving as an educational tool for the public. Initially, the privately-funded project aimed to create 22 bronze sculptures of former Canadian prime ministers to commemorate Canada’s 150th anniversary.
After various delays, the project is now gearing up for its unveiling. Carolyn Salonen, a retired educator and member of Createscape’s advisory committee, expressed hope that the pathway and artwork will stimulate conversations. Salonen emphasized the importance of understanding historical figures and their impact on society to prevent repeating negative aspects of history.
Createscape Waterloo Region has taken custody of the nine prime ministers statues owned by the township, reaching an agreement to display them in municipal parkland for the next 20 years. Createscape Chair Don Bourgeois highlighted the significance of understanding Canada’s history in shaping a collective future for all Canadians.
The group plans to provide updates on the reinstallation progress and educational resources as the project advances, aiming to encourage dialogue and learning about Canada’s past and its implications for the future.
Salonen stressed that the statues are not just memorials but representations of figures in Canadian history, urging people to engage in discussions about the prime ministers’ decisions and the country’s trajectory. The pathway is envisioned as a space for open and meaningful conversations about history and the future of Canada.
