Why the Sir Winston Churchill Leadership Initiative and statue project?
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Sir Winston Churchillwas one of the greatest political leaders of the twentieth century—early on as a proponent of social reform, and later, as an initial voice in the wilderness when warning about Germany’s re-militarization. In office as Prime Minister, as of May 1940, Churchill would lead his country and allies including Canada in the fight against Nazi tyranny.
The Sir Winston Churchill Society of Calgary wishes to honour one of the greatest world leaders of the twentieth century with a statue and a new speaker series in Calgary for five reasons: |
"My great-grandfather loved your country. He recorded the beauty of Alberta in his paintings during his 1929 visit, and spoke warmly of its grandeur. In September 1941, speaking in London at a dinner to honour Mackenzie King, Prime Minister of Canada, he memorably said: ‘Canada is the linchpin of the English-speaking world.’
"On behalf of the Churchill family, I send our best wishes to all in the Society. We are grateful to you all for continuing to keep alive the memory of Churchill and for supporting our shared and hard won legacy of freedom." — With my very best, Randolph Churchill III |
1. To honour the hundreds of Calgarians, other Canadians, and other allies from the Commonwealth and beyond who fought in the Second World War, including those who died fighting in that war. Those who fought tyranny and died doing so from around the world included:
Churchill’s early warnings in the 1930s and his official leadership starting in 1940 was crucial to the alliance of democracies, including Canada, and is why many of our parents, grandparents, and great- grandparents remember and cherish Winston Churchill’s leadership.
- 44,900 Canadians
- 382,700 Britons
- 240, 000 Poles
- 87,000 Indians
- 39,800 Australians
- 11,900 New Zealanders
- 416,800 Americans
- 57,000 Filipinos
- 21,000 Dutch
- 3,000 Norwegians
- 2,100 Danes
- 12,100 Belgians
Churchill’s early warnings in the 1930s and his official leadership starting in 1940 was crucial to the alliance of democracies, including Canada, and is why many of our parents, grandparents, and great- grandparents remember and cherish Winston Churchill’s leadership.
2. To remember Churchill as an early social reformer whose work included advocacy for those he described as the “left-out millions.” Churchill’s earliest political advocacy included lobbying for pensions, unemployment insurance, and a minimum wage for the “sweated trades.”
As described by Dr. Ian Holloway, dean of the University of Calgary Law School, as Home Secretary, Churchill advocated for unemployment insurance and pensions, a network of employment offices, and a minimum wage for those in the “sweated trades” such as garment workers. Churchill’s work as a social reformer also included the Shops Bill to limit the hours of shopworkers.
As Churchill historian Andrew Roberts has noted, Churchill also opposed tariffs on food as they hurt the poor: “High protective tariffs, although they might increase the profits of capital, are to the poor and the poorest of the poor a cursed engine of robbery and oppression,” said Churchill in 1903.
As described by Dr. Ian Holloway, dean of the University of Calgary Law School, as Home Secretary, Churchill advocated for unemployment insurance and pensions, a network of employment offices, and a minimum wage for those in the “sweated trades” such as garment workers. Churchill’s work as a social reformer also included the Shops Bill to limit the hours of shopworkers.
As Churchill historian Andrew Roberts has noted, Churchill also opposed tariffs on food as they hurt the poor: “High protective tariffs, although they might increase the profits of capital, are to the poor and the poorest of the poor a cursed engine of robbery and oppression,” said Churchill in 1903.
3. To recall Churchill’s contribution to human flourishing, freedom, and human progress.
Churchill was a man of his era with all that that implies—he favoured imperialism which we would not today—but he also contributed to
a freer and more flourishing world throughout his career. For example, as historian Andrew Roberts has noted, Churchill stood up for minority rights:
Also, as Roberts notes, despite the mutual and well-known antipathy between Mahatma Gandhi and Winston Churchill over Indian independence,
Churchill was a man of his era with all that that implies—he favoured imperialism which we would not today—but he also contributed to
a freer and more flourishing world throughout his career. For example, as historian Andrew Roberts has noted, Churchill stood up for minority rights:
- Denounced an anti-Jewish bill that meant to prevent Jewish immigration from Russia;
- Believed governments have a duty to protect minorities against what he called “a petty white community, with the harsh and selfish ideas which mark the jealous contact of races and exploitation of the weaker.”
- Wanted Indian minorities, the untouchables and Muslims, protected from the majority.
- Opposed Boer racism in South Africa, writing of a hoped-for future in South Africa in which “Black is to be proclaimed the same as white…to be constituted his legal equal, to be armed with political rights.”
Also, as Roberts notes, despite the mutual and well-known antipathy between Mahatma Gandhi and Winston Churchill over Indian independence,
- In 1935 Churchill invited one of Gandhi’s friends to Chartwell (his home in Kent) and asked him to “Tell Mr. Gandhi to use the powers that are offered to make the thing a success. I am genuinely sympathetic towards India.”
- In response, Gandhi later wrote of how “I have got a good recollection of Mr. Churchill when he was in the Colonial Office and somehow or other since I have held the opinion that I can always rely on his sympathy and goodwill.”
- Churchill himself also softened, saying that “his esteem for Gandhi had risen since Gandhi had ‘stood up for the Untouchables.’”
4. To remember Churchill’s lifetime and leadership, especially as an early critic of tyranny and as a war-time leader.
This aspect of Churchill’s career is much more well-known. Churchill was a rare voice in the 1930s when he argued against appeasement of Nazi Germany. In 1932, Churchill warned that Germany should “not be allowed to rearm.” It was instead, said Churchill, the first step to “shatter to the foundations” of the other countries of Europe. In October 1938, when Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returned from Munich believing he had obtained a guarantee of peace from Hitler, Churchill’s response was “I will begin by saying what everybody would like to ignore or forget but which must be stated, namely, that we have sustained a total and unmitigated defeat.”
As Prime Minister of Great Britain for most of the Second World War (from May 1940 until July 1945), Churchill would lead Great Britain against difficult odds and events. That included the eight-month “Blitz”— the Nazi bombing campaign against British cities; a constant reduction in food and other supplies for Britons; and carve out a path to victory. That was never guaranteed and Churchill did so over the worries of some in the British government including Lord Halifax (the Foreign Secretary) who sought a peace treaty with Germany early in the war.
Churchill’s views, as we know, won out and he led the Commonwealth coalition against Nazi Germany until the declaration of war by Germany on the United States in December 1941 brought American power into the conflict.
Perhaps Churchill’s most famous quote of the war is as follows, from June 4, 1940 just after the evacuation of British Forces at Dunkirk:
This aspect of Churchill’s career is much more well-known. Churchill was a rare voice in the 1930s when he argued against appeasement of Nazi Germany. In 1932, Churchill warned that Germany should “not be allowed to rearm.” It was instead, said Churchill, the first step to “shatter to the foundations” of the other countries of Europe. In October 1938, when Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain returned from Munich believing he had obtained a guarantee of peace from Hitler, Churchill’s response was “I will begin by saying what everybody would like to ignore or forget but which must be stated, namely, that we have sustained a total and unmitigated defeat.”
As Prime Minister of Great Britain for most of the Second World War (from May 1940 until July 1945), Churchill would lead Great Britain against difficult odds and events. That included the eight-month “Blitz”— the Nazi bombing campaign against British cities; a constant reduction in food and other supplies for Britons; and carve out a path to victory. That was never guaranteed and Churchill did so over the worries of some in the British government including Lord Halifax (the Foreign Secretary) who sought a peace treaty with Germany early in the war.
Churchill’s views, as we know, won out and he led the Commonwealth coalition against Nazi Germany until the declaration of war by Germany on the United States in December 1941 brought American power into the conflict.
Perhaps Churchill’s most famous quote of the war is as follows, from June 4, 1940 just after the evacuation of British Forces at Dunkirk:
"We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."
5. To commemorate Churchill’s 1929 visit to Alberta.
According to Bradley Tolpannen in his book, Churchill in North America, 1929, Churchill was fascinated by southern Alberta, including the Turner Valley oil fields, the Prince of Wales ranch, and the Canadian Rockies, where Churchill created several paintings. At the Turner Valley oil fields, he would write to his wife, Clementine, that they were “amazing” and speculated he might buy 1,000 shares in Alberta-based oil firms.
When Churchill arrived in Calgary on a Saturday morning, August 24, 1929, he walked across the CPR train station platform and gazed westward at the Rockies and remarked that “What a glorious day! I can just see the peaks of the Rockies from here!” While in Calgary, Churchill gave a speech at the Palliser Hotel, then Calgary’s tallest building at 12 stories, and was given an off-white Stetson hat, a hat that he would keep for his entire life and often wear while painting.
At Lake Louise, Churchill described it as a “truly enchanting scene” and said that the comfort and beauty of Lake Louise had “never been surpassed” in any of his travels over four continents. He later described the Rockies as the equal of anything in Switzerland. Churchill clearly enjoyed and cherished his 1929 visit to Alberta.
According to Bradley Tolpannen in his book, Churchill in North America, 1929, Churchill was fascinated by southern Alberta, including the Turner Valley oil fields, the Prince of Wales ranch, and the Canadian Rockies, where Churchill created several paintings. At the Turner Valley oil fields, he would write to his wife, Clementine, that they were “amazing” and speculated he might buy 1,000 shares in Alberta-based oil firms.
When Churchill arrived in Calgary on a Saturday morning, August 24, 1929, he walked across the CPR train station platform and gazed westward at the Rockies and remarked that “What a glorious day! I can just see the peaks of the Rockies from here!” While in Calgary, Churchill gave a speech at the Palliser Hotel, then Calgary’s tallest building at 12 stories, and was given an off-white Stetson hat, a hat that he would keep for his entire life and often wear while painting.
At Lake Louise, Churchill described it as a “truly enchanting scene” and said that the comfort and beauty of Lake Louise had “never been surpassed” in any of his travels over four continents. He later described the Rockies as the equal of anything in Switzerland. Churchill clearly enjoyed and cherished his 1929 visit to Alberta.
"The only place that Churchill ever spoke of retiring to – apart from his home in Kent - was Alberta, such was his love of the province and its sense of boundless possibilities. It is fitting that the greatest champion of liberty of the 20th century should be commemorated in such a magnificent way in Calgary. Observed in his proper historical context, we see a man who insisted on the equality of all races before the law throughout the Empire throughout his career, who put his life on the line many times to defend the indigenous populations of the Empire, and who defeated and destroyed history’s worst racist, Adolf Hitler. Churchill adored Canada, and it is wonderful to see Canadians return the tribute." — Andrew Roberts, author: ‘Churchill: Walking with Destiny’
Specifics on the Churchill Statue Project
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The Sir Winston Churchill Society of Calgary seeks to raise $300,000 for the statue, base and ongoing maintenance and once that is complete, begin fundraising for a further $200,000 for the Speaker Series. We will also soon apply to the City of Calgary through their official process for the approval of public art. (We will not request city funding.) Our goal is to then work with the City of Calgary on placement, commission the statue, and install it
in a prominent public area on or by August 24, 2021, the anniversary of Churchill’s August 24, 1929 visit to Calgary. |
Churchill and his wife Clementine
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About the sculptor
Danek Mozdzenski
Danek Mozdzenski has been commissioned to create the statue of Sir Winston Churchill. Danek is an Edmonton-born, self-educated sculptor and painter. Danek unveiled his first public commission – a bust of renowned author Joseph Conrad – in 1967, at the age of 14, as part of the Edmonton Centennial Library’s (now known as the Stanley A. Milner Library) artistic celebration of Canada’s 100 years of statehood.
His commissioned work is housed in public and private collections in Canada, the United States, England, Poland, Denmark and Saudi Arabia. They include sculptures of the late Alberta Lieutenant Governor Lois Hole; the jazz musician and blues singer, Clarence Horatio Miller; and Alberta suffragist Nellie McClung.
Two major works are Brock University’s $1.2 million monument to Sir Isaac Brock, unveiled in 2015, and the Lester B. Pearson monument on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, unveiled in 1988. The Pearson monument is of the same scale as our intended 1.5 times life size striding image of Sir Winston Churchill.
His commissioned work is housed in public and private collections in Canada, the United States, England, Poland, Denmark and Saudi Arabia. They include sculptures of the late Alberta Lieutenant Governor Lois Hole; the jazz musician and blues singer, Clarence Horatio Miller; and Alberta suffragist Nellie McClung.
Two major works are Brock University’s $1.2 million monument to Sir Isaac Brock, unveiled in 2015, and the Lester B. Pearson monument on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, unveiled in 1988. The Pearson monument is of the same scale as our intended 1.5 times life size striding image of Sir Winston Churchill.
Former Alberta Lieutenant Governor Lois Hole
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Jazz musician & blues singer Clarence Horatio Miller
Alberta suffragist Nellie McClung
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How to donate to the Churchill Statue Project
If you would like to help preserve and promote the legacy of Sir Winston Churchill, please contact Heather Coleman, Gerry Chipeur, James Maxim, Mark Milke, or Gordon Lang at the addresses below. Any one of us will be happy to discuss this legacy project and your own personal tribute to Sir Winston Churchill.
Ms. Heather Coleman, Chair of the Churchill Leadership Initiative
Email: coleman@albertarealtor.ca
Mr. Gerald Chipeur, QC, responsible for Society fundraising
(general and assistance with the statue project)
Email: gchipeur@millerthomson.com
Mr. James MaximEmail, board member, jmaxim@telus.net
Dr. Mark Milke, President, Sir Winston Churchill Society of Calgary
Email: mark@markmilke.com
Mr. Gordon Lang, board member
Email: gordonblang@gmail.com
You may also donate directly at http://www.churchillcalgary.ca/donate.html to arrange a charitable donation. As the Sir Winston Churchill Society of Calgary is a registered charity, all donations will receive a tax receipt. Charitable Registration #: 3037810
Ms. Heather Coleman, Chair of the Churchill Leadership Initiative
Email: coleman@albertarealtor.ca
Mr. Gerald Chipeur, QC, responsible for Society fundraising
(general and assistance with the statue project)
Email: gchipeur@millerthomson.com
Mr. James MaximEmail, board member, jmaxim@telus.net
Dr. Mark Milke, President, Sir Winston Churchill Society of Calgary
Email: mark@markmilke.com
Mr. Gordon Lang, board member
Email: gordonblang@gmail.com
You may also donate directly at http://www.churchillcalgary.ca/donate.html to arrange a charitable donation. As the Sir Winston Churchill Society of Calgary is a registered charity, all donations will receive a tax receipt. Charitable Registration #: 3037810
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About the Sir Winston Churchill Society of Calgary
The Sir Winston Churchill Society of Calgary is a registered charitable society, founded in 1966 by the then-publisher of the Calgary Herald, Frank Swanson and Vera Swanson. Mr. Swanson was a Canadian war correspondent when he met Vera, who was born in Great Britain, and who would serve as his driver for a time, eventually marrying him and moving together to Canada after the war.
The Sir Winston Churchill Society of Calgary is the sponsor of the annual Sir Winston Churchill High School debates and Mount Royal Moot Court debates. Bursaries are awarded to debate winners in both events. In addition to currently hosting socials and an annual dinner to commemorate the memory of Sir Winston Churchill, the Society will soon hold an annual contest with awards for students for student-produced videos of recitations of a famous Churchill speech.
A registered charity, the Society’s mission statement is as follows:
The Sir Winston Churchill Society of Calgary is the sponsor of the annual Sir Winston Churchill High School debates and Mount Royal Moot Court debates. Bursaries are awarded to debate winners in both events. In addition to currently hosting socials and an annual dinner to commemorate the memory of Sir Winston Churchill, the Society will soon hold an annual contest with awards for students for student-produced videos of recitations of a famous Churchill speech.
A registered charity, the Society’s mission statement is as follows:
The Sir Winston Churchill Society promotes students’ facility in the use of the spoken and written word emphasizing oratorical and communication skills as exemplified by the debates, speeches and writings of Sir Winston Spencer- Churchill.
The Society also exists to preserve and promote the legacy of Sir Winston Spencer-Churchill, including his achievements in the face of tyranny and the preservation of freedom, and in so doing commemorate his leadership and achievements.
The Society also exists to preserve and promote the legacy of Sir Winston Spencer-Churchill, including his achievements in the face of tyranny and the preservation of freedom, and in so doing commemorate his leadership and achievements.
