The Ghost of John A. Macdonald : Discussion on Public Memory and Historical Trauma in Canada

Details

Supervisors

Arblaster, Paul

Faculty

Faculté de philosophie, arts et lettres

Degree label

Master [120] en communication multilingue

Abstract

John A. Macdonald was the first Prime Minister of Canada for nearly nineteen years. Recently, his presence in the Canadian public space has sparked debate. Despite being an important historical figure, he is also a much controversial figure. This thesis looks at the issue of Macdonald’s legacy in four Canadian cities. In those cities, Macdonald’s statues have been the targets of protest actions. Out of the news analysis, it appeared that two main camps were opposed: a part of the population wished to see Macdonald less present in the public space, whereas another part wished to let him in the public view. This division can be explained by the ongoing trauma of the residential schools and by the two distinct collective memories existing regarding Macdonald among the Canadian population. Given this deep cleavage, it seems difficult to find common ground on this issue. However, several options, such as recontextualizing Macdonald’s statues, museums or setting up Indigenous figures statues, have been explored.