Museum of Civilization acquires historic carving found in Ottawa’s former Bank of Montreal building

MEDIA RELEASE

For immediate release

Gatineau, Quebec, October 10, 2013 — A recently discovered 19th century stone carving of the Bank of Montreal coat of arms will become part of the National Collection at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, thanks to a generous transfer from Public Works and Government Services Canada. Workers found the historic tablet inside existing walls on May 15, 2012 during the Department’s renovation of the Sir John A. Macdonald Building (the former Bank of Montreal building) on Wellington Street in Ottawa, opposite the Parliament Buildings.

The sandstone low-relief carved tablet was likely created between 1893 and 1901. It features two stereotypical Aboriginal male figures supporting the coat of arms on either side. Surmounting the crest is a beaver, symbol of Canadian industriousness. Other Bank of Montreal buildings have been decorated with variations of this theme over the years. The identity of the person who sculpted this particular example is not known.

The tablet evokes the leading role that the Bank of Montreal played in the nation’s development. As Canada’s oldest banking institution, the Bank of Montreal financed many vital nation-building projects, including the country’s first canals and railroads. Until the creation of the Bank of Canada in 1935, it was the Bank of Montreal that was responsible for printing Dominion/Canadian currency.

“We are very grateful to Public Works and Government Services Canada, and the Bank of Montreal, for making this remarkable acquisition possible,” said Mark O’Neill, President and CEO of the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation. “This artifact represents an important Canadian institution with a major role in shaping our nation’s history. As part of the National Collection, the tablet will help the new Canadian Museum of History tell the economic story of our nation.”

“The discovery of this carving is exciting news for all of us at BMO,” said John Berryman, Senior Vice-President and Managing Director, BMO Nesbitt Burns Inc.  “We have been serving residents of Ottawa since 1842, and this artefact is a very special representation of our long history in the nation’s capital.  We are proud to see this carving take an important place at the Canadian Museum of Civilization.”

“The rehabilitation projects on the Parliamentary Precinct are allowing us to preserve our heritage while making incredible discoveries along the way,” said the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services. “We are pleased to transfer this remarkable piece of Canadian history to the museum so it can be enjoyed by Canadians for generations to come.”

Public Works and Government Services Canada had the carving assessed, and it is in good and stable condition. Measuring 1.1 by 1.5 metres, the tablet appears to have been first covered with gilding or gold leaf and then later with metallic paint. The Museum of Civilization will maintain the carving in its current condition for the time being. It will be used for research and study purposes, and possible future exhibitions and loans to other institutions.

The Canadian Museum of Civilization is the centre for research and public information on the social and human history of the country. Located on the shores of the Ottawa River in Gatineau, Quebec, the Museum is Canada’s largest and most popular cultural institution, attracting over 1.2 million visitors each year. The Museum of Civilization’s principal role is to preserve and promote the heritage of Canada for present and future generations, thereby contributing to the promotion and enhancement of Canadian identity.

–­ 30 –­

Media contacts: