Preservation of the Famous 5 statue in Calgary’s Olympic Plaza renovation should be a priority, according to a local foundation charged with raising awareness of the historic Alberta figures.

The statue’s future is currently in question as the city announced its $108M for downtown renovations, which include projects in Stephen Avenue and the $40 million Olympic Plaza transformation, according to CMLC (Calgary Municipal Land Corporation).

The iconic Famous 5 statue made out of bronze has been located in Calgary’s Olympic Plaza since 1999. The statue contains five Alberta women, Nellie McClung, Henrietta Muir Edwards, Irene Parlby, Emily Murphy, and Louise McKinney. The women’s importance stems from work done for the welfare and rights of women and children. This includes championing women’s right to vote and the right to seek elected office. Women could only be appointed to Canada’s Senate in 1929.

Although the group holds significance for their work on women’s and children’s rights, according to Britannica, some groups have criticized the women “as racist and elitist and see their accomplishments as tarnished by associations with the eugenics movement.” Eugenics is the practice of improving the human species through selective mating.

Frances Wright, CEO and co-founder of the Famous 5 Foundation, said the criticisms highlight the era the women were living in and how individuals of today can make a better change. 

“To sit in the chair and thank the Famous 5 and the other women who have built Canada…we ask people when they’re sitting in Emily’s chair to discuss the Famous 5 where they disagree with them, but to propose a better idea. Give them some more information, say what you think would have been a better belief,” said Wright. 

Olympic Plaza transformation plans are underway

Calgary’s proposed timeline for its downtown renovation is 2023-2026. The intention for the transformation is to create a space where there is a more impactful space that relates to conceptual and physical connections, according to CMLC.

“The current expansion plans don’t really allow space to maintain an artwork of that size and scale, and also, that entire area is redeveloping. So, there needs to be potentially some new artwork that will come in,” said Julie Yepishina-Geller, Public Art Liaison with the City of Calgary.  

“Obviously, we are looking at places that will be publicly accessible, that hopefully will be centrally located because the Famous 5 monument is a huge tourist attraction.”

Understanding that the statue was constructed to empower females, it is important for the foundation that this work of art stays in the Olympic Plaza.

“In Calgary, it’s the only monument that honours women as nation builders, and that’s why it belongs in Olympic Plaza. I’m sure the talented designers and architects, project managers will figure out a way to include the monument, because that’s what we’re hearing from Calgarians they want it back in Olympic Plaza,” said Wright.

The statue will remain in the Olympic Plaza until after the 95th anniversary of the Persons Case, which happens in October.   

As the relocation negotiations continue to happen, the Famous 5 Foundation is adamant on understanding the objection to having the Famous 5 statue return to Olympic Plaza. 

“We need to know that Calgarians need to know who made the decision and who is objecting,” Wright said.