​Kincardine council to determine fate of Secord monument next month

Kincardine council has decided to debate the fate of the Solomon Secord monument at the council meeting in August.

At the meeting last night (July 10), council was told that the monument has been removed from in front of the library in downtown Kincardine, due to the reconstruction of Queen Street.

Staff stated that once the street work is completed, the proposed new location for the monument will not allow it to serve effectively as a sundial.

Therefore, the motion, brought forward by councillor Beth Blackwell, was to defer the placement of the monument until council has the chance to review its placement.

Councillor Bill Stewart suggested putting it in the parkette beside the Dairy Queen.

However, councillor Mike Hinchberger suggested a friendly amendment to the motion, adding that council should also review the commemorative text on the monument which, he said, does not reflect contributions to the Municipality of Kincardine, the Province of Ontario or to Canada, or the municipality's commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity and access.

“I know it’s historic,” he said, “but council needs to discuss how to move ahead with this.”

Deputy mayor Andrea Clarke said the monument does have historical relevance, but there is an uncomfortable past associated with it, that being the American Civil War.

The inscription on the monument states: “To Solomon Secord, 1834-1910. Our family physician for 50 years. This memorial was erected by his loving friends. Served as a surgeon with the Southern Army during the American Civil War. All that lived he loved, and without regard for fee or reward, he did his work for love of his work and for love of his fellows.”

Back in 2018, a request was put forward by a resident of Kincardine, asking that the monument be removed, but that was denied by council. For more about that story, click here.

“We need to determine our next steps forward,” said Clarke, last night. “It’s important to acknowledge the facts, but also move toward reconciliation. However, we can agree that we must maintain this historic monument.”

She said that the original intent cannot be judged under the current lens; council’s job is to best serve the community.

Among council’s options, she said, are extending the narrative to provide a clearer picture; re-claiming the object for its symbolism; or removing it entirely.

“I do not advocate removing the monument,” said Clarke. “We need to take some time to reflect on our options, and engage with the public and other stakeholders. We cannot exist in an echo chamber; we must talk with others who have a different lived experience, different cultures and different backgrounds. It’s not just preservation versus removal.”

She said the monument is not a divisive structure in the community. But council must find the best, most-acceptable resolution to the issues surrounding it.

“If we believe the community is genuinely stronger because of our differences, then we must take steps to unify our community,” she said.

Clarke noted that the historical significance of the monument is that it is the only one in Canada erected in honour of a veteran of the American Civil War.

“We need to listen, show respect and make a decision, and we will be better because of it.”

Mayor Kenneth Craig pointed out that if council defers placement of the monument beyond the completion of the Queen Street project, there will be extra costs for its placement. Currently, the integrity of the monument is being preserved and it is being safely stored, he said.

Council agreed with Hinchberger’s friendly amendment, to include the commemorative text in the debate about the monument’s placement at the meeting in August.