On September 25, the Development Services Committee of the Council approved a motion suggesting that the Council find a different spot for the statue. This comes despite an Artwork Donation Agreement made with Romandale, who donated the statue.
City Council had unanimously accepted this agreement over a year ago, allowing the statue to be placed in Charity Crescent after reviewing positive engineering and safety studies along with a thorough presentation that detailed its design, height, and location.
The donor fully financed both the creation and installation of the statue.
Helen Roman-Barber, CEO of Romandale, expressed her strong hope to Mayor Frank Scarpitti-who was against the committee’s recommendation to remove it-that City Council would follow his stance and uphold established Markham policies supporting public art initiatives.
She also urged all City Council members “to demonstrate leadership and vision regarding the importance of public art and the merits of the City’s initial decision to install the statue in Charity Crescent.”
Additionally, she predicted that “the opposition to the statue, which was stirred up by a few individuals and councillors, will eventually turn into widespread public support as people reflect on it more and become familiar with Charity.”
This eight-metre tall statue of Charity is made from high-quality stainless steel and looks out towards the stunning Cathedral of the Transfiguration at Cathedraltown. It holds significant symbolic, historical, and artistic value.
The renowned sculptor Ron Baird created this piece; he has completed over 150 public commissions including several works commissioned by Markham.
Art critic Joan Murray has praised Mr. Baird for establishing “a new aesthetic form in Canada, sculpture in the context of architecture,” highlighting his contributions to Canadian art.
Charity was born in Ohio on August 6, 1978. She was co-owned by Hanover Hill Farms near Port Perry where she lived and Romandale Farms-a company founded by Stephen B. Roman who is recognized as Canada’s top breeder and exhibitor of Holsteins.
The placement of her statue in Cathedraltown reflects her immense contribution to Ontario’s dairy farmers’ success as well as Romandale Farms’ impact on developing Cathedraltown-and consequently-on today’s prosperity experienced by Markham residents.
Charity isn’t alone as an artistic representation within Cathedraltown; another cow image appears among Pendentives supporting Cathedral Transfiguration’s dome-the namesake for Cathedraltown itself.
The council agreed upon placing Charity’s statue in Cathedraltown because it showcases city policies emphasizing public art as “a key component to uniqueness and identity within municipalities.”
This makes Charity only the third bovine from Romandale honored with a statue but notably marks her as its first female representation.
A bull named Rosafe Signet was purchased by Fidel Castro back in 1961 to enhance Cuba’s dairy cattle quality. Following successful results from this endeavor, Cuba erected a statue dedicated to Rosafe Signet in Old Havana. His sire was A. B. C. Reflection Sovereign-a prized bull from Romandale-and inspired naming one road within Cathedraltown after him.
Another bull from Romandale named Count Crystan also received recognition through street naming rights within Cathedraltown; Japan bought him intending to assist local dairy farmers improve their herds-a goal they achieved so successfully they built Count Crystan’s own statue back home too.
SOURCE Romandale Farms Limited
Ed Shiller, 647-407-2953, [email protected]
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