Council discusses Samuel de Champlain statue controversy

Añadido: 2026-06-03

[00:00:00]A special council meeting was held today in Orillia to discuss the future of the Samuel de Champlain statue. This comes nearly a week after the 16-ft bronze monument was reinstalled at Couchiching Beach Park and vandalized within hours.

[00:00:13]This afternoon, council gathered at the Orillia City Centre to consider a move to transition the statue into interim secure and neutral storage.

[00:00:23]>> I absolutely agree that we should be working together.

[00:00:28]But that is not what has happened here.

[00:00:30]Staff were not informed. Council were not informed. We still don't know the cost breakdown. [clears throat] We still don't know whether permits were issued. This is not working together.

[00:00:40]>> Council has now approved a plan and under the recommended motion, staff will remove the statue and ensure that it is stored in a secure place. The costs associated will be covered through the city's tax rate stabilization reserve.