Sir John A. Macdonald statue in City of Hamilton storage
The statue of Sir John A. Macdonald toppled by protesters in Gore Park remains in storage at an unspecified City of Hamilton location.
Staff from the tourism and culture division will assess damage and next steps in the near future," said city spokesperson Michelle Shantz.
What happens with the statue will be for city councillors to decide, but no dates have been set for council to review the matter, she said.
About 200 people had gathered in the downtown park for an Indigenous unity rally Saturday when the statue was pulled down.
It comes about a month after council rejected a motion to temporarily remove the 128-year-old statue and put it in storage pending a review of city-owned landmarks and monuments. The motion was rejected in a 12-3 vote.
There have been increasing calls to remove public monuments to Macdonald because of his significant role in establishing the infamous residential school system, which removed thousands of Indigenous children from their families and cultures. In recent months thousands of unmarked graves have been uncovered at former school sites.
Saturday's rally began at Hamilton city hall and ended with a march to the statue. Protesters used rope, tied around the statue's neck, to pull it down. The statue was painted red, damaged with an angle grinder and hammer, and left face up with pieces of cedar scattered over it.
The toppling was met with cheers from the crowd, with many remarking that the community took action where elected leaders would not.
Hamilton police are investigating the incident as mischief. As of Monday no one had been arrested or charged.
Spokesperson Jackie Penman said police continue to investigate, including interviewing witnesses and reviewing video.
As park of the landmarks and monuments review ratified by council July 9, the city has said it will undertake an Indigenous historical review of city-owned landmarks across Hamilton. This includes looking at park and street names.
Nicole O'Reilly is a Hamilton-based reporter covering crime and justice for The Spectator. Reach her via email: noreilly@thespec.com