On June 24, 2026, the Société historique de Montréal formally urged the mayor of Montreal to arrange the return of a statue of explorer Samuel de Champlain. The appeal follows the recent removal of the monument in the neighboring province of Ontario, where the figure was toppled.
The historical society, which preserves the city’s heritage, said the statue belongs in Montreal and that its removal from Ontario creates an opportunity for the city to reclaim the work. Representatives of the group submitted a written request to the mayor’s office, asking that municipal authorities negotiate its repatriation.
Mayor of Montreal has not yet issued a public response. The city’s cultural department typically oversees the acquisition and placement of public artworks, and any decision would involve coordination with provincial officials and the owners of the statue.
Samuel de Champlain, recognized as the founder of New France, is a frequent subject of public monuments in Quebec. The society noted that the statue’s presence in Montreal would contribute to the city’s historical landscape and provide an educational reference for residents and visitors.
The request arrives amid ongoing discussions across Canada about the treatment of historic monuments. The Montreal Historical Society’s letter emphasizes the desire to preserve the explorer’s legacy within the city rather than allowing the work to remain absent from public display.