A magnificent bronze equestrian statue, the South African War Monument was unveiled in Central [Memorial] Park in Calgary on 20 June 1914. The Horseman of the Plains, commemorating the South African War, located in the centre of the Central Memorial park’s oval. The Horseman of the Plains is the earliest commissioned work, since it was erected by The City of Calgary in 1914. The equestrian statue was erected as a tribute to all Albertans who fought in the Second Boer War. The French-Canadian sculptor Louis Philippe Hébert suggested that the memorial be placed in Calgary’s Central Park.
The dedication speech delivered by the Right Honourable R. B. Bennett, an influential local politician and a well-respected Member of Parliament, expressed the organizers’ hope that the memorial statue would inspire future acts of British patriotism and civic engagement:
“Here in this beautiful park, the centre of the activities of this proud city, the product of our twentieth century civilization, in which materialism plays so large a part, this monument will stand ever as a visible reminder of other than material things: of heroic self-sacrifice; indomitable courage; loft patriotism; devotion to duty and of service to the cause of liberty... It will serve as an incentive to the youth of our city to emulate the efforts of those who are no more. It will stimulate their ambition; it will fill their minds with high and lofty conceptions of patriotism, and with a desire to live lives of usefulness and service.”
Remembrance Day ceremonies are held here annually on November 11.
After the Calgary Canadian Club and the South African War veterans were denied city funds, they asked the public to help raise the $25,000 necessary to construct the statue. The Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire was among the first to respond and enlisted Boy Scouts and Cadets to help them raise the sum by through fundraisers and donations. The Daughters of the Empire was a women’s patriotic association that focused on educating young Canadians about the South African War and the heroic sacrifices of Canadian veterans while instilling British patriotic values.
