In Granite and Bronze

Monuments preserve history, but they also have fascinating histories of their own. Drawing on the knowledge and insights of more than one hundred contributors across diverse disciplines and perspectives, In Granite and Bronze is an engaging and comprehensive guide to the monuments and memorials of Canada’s National Capital Region. Covering everything from statues and fountains to weathervanes and gates, the volume explores commemorations throughout Ottawa’s urban, suburban, and rural landscapes, as well as Gatineau and the rural Outaouais.Canada’s capital is home to grand monuments that tell stories of the nation’s contributions to global wars, but it also hosts more local commemorations. Capturing the chronological and thematic range of Ottawa’s monuments – a sundial given to the city by Colonel By in 1827, the Chinese Railway Workers Memorial of 2025, the 2SLGBTQI National Monument unveiled in 2026 – the book begins with a dialogue on the Algonquin Anishinaabe Nation Land Acknowledgement Monument at City Hall, exploring its wording, placement, and visibility. Other entries examine design and commissioning, sculpture competitions, jury decisions, historical interpretations, controversies, community initiatives, and policy debates. Organized by neighbourhood and accompanied by photographs, entries combine description, history, and interpretation. In Granite and Bronze invites readers to explore the capital’s monuments anew – on foot or from the page – and discover the stories, debates, and values they embody.