Work has commenced on the restoration of the Prime Ministers Path initiative in Wilmot Township after a five-year hiatus due to previous controversies. The park adjacent to Castle Kilbride is set to witness the reinstallation of five existing bronze portraits and the introduction of a sixth statue depicting an unidentified prime minister.
The Prime Ministers Path project in Baden has been embroiled in disputes in the past, notably when the statue of Sir John A. Macdonald was relocated in 2020 following an incident where it was defaced with red paint as a form of protest against Macdonald’s involvement in residential schools. Subsequently, all remaining statues were taken down in 2021 and placed in storage. In 2025, the Wilmot council voted to proceed with the project, entrusting its continuation to Createscape Waterloo Region for the reinstallation.
Originally conceived as a privately-funded initiative to commemorate all Canadian prime ministers by installing 22 bronze sculptures along a park pathway, the project encountered delays but is now nearing completion. Carolyn Salonen, a retired educator and member of Createscape’s advisory committee, emphasized the group’s aspiration for the pathway and artwork to stimulate dialogue.
Createscape Waterloo Region has assumed custody of the nine prime ministers statues owned by the township, with plans to exhibit them in municipal parkland over the next two decades. Don Bourgeois, Chair of Createscape, highlighted the importance of understanding Canada’s history in shaping the nation’s future.
The project’s leaders envision the pathway as a platform for engaging conversations about Canadian history and the decisions made by past prime ministers. The artworks are viewed not as memorials but as representations of key figures in Canadian history. Salonen stressed the significance of acknowledging and discussing history rather than attempting to erase it, emphasizing the pathway as a space for constructive dialogue about the past and future.
For more information on the project, including updates on the reinstallation process and educational resources, the group intends to share details as the project progresses. The objective remains to foster understanding and reflection on the legacies of Canada’s prime ministers for a cohesive national narrative.