By Joel Ceausu
The Suburban
How long does it take to remove a small slab of granite from a park?
(Not a trick question, but maybe a tricky one.)
For 65 years a small monument has stood at the southeast entrance to Macdonald Park, a dynamic green space at Snowdon’s western edge.
Alongside footpaths, swing sets and dogs, stands the tribute to the murderous Isabella I of Castille, who brought the inquisition to Spain, where hundreds of thousands of Jews and Muslims were tortured and expelled. “She was the Hitler of her day,” said resident David Engel. “Given the many religious and ethnic communities in the area, should she still be celebrated?”
It’s a while since 1958, when historical consciousness was less pervasive, but in 2024 begs the question: Is it appropriate to honor a medieval monarch who reigned over massacres and genocide in service to imperialism and Christian dominance in the heart of one of Canada’s most diverse neighbourhoods?
It was radio silence at Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante’s office, which had nothing to comment more than a year ago, other than suggesting a query to Montreal’s media relations department, which did not respond, even as Montreal’s recognition rules acknowledge times change: “as knowledge and values evolve in society, questions sometimes arise about people or events recognized in another era. Such situations may lead to requests for revision of certain acts of recognition that took place long ago, a process also covered in the framework.”
It’s been almost 18 months since Borough Mayor Gracia Kasoki Katahwa, recently named Plante administration point-person on racism and discrimination, welcomed a suggestion by Engel and Snowdon councillor Sonny Moroz to remove it, and asked Moroz to follow up. Numerous residents have told The Suburban they could save city dollars and “take care of it.”
Moroz said he made his third official request to remove the statue in January, fully within the borough’s purview, but seems to be slowed by bureaucratic processes. “I asked that they just remove it and leave the flower bed because residents want to keep that.”
The stone was dedicated in October 1958 by 18 consuls in Montreal on the 466th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’ discovery of America, itself a few months after the Alhambra Decree expelled Spain’s practising Jews. Not only did Isabella oversee torture, massacre and forced conversion of hundreds of thousands, but survivors were given a deadline to convert or leave. Over half of Spain’s Jews were forcibly converted in the 14th century, with 40,000-100,000 expelled from Spain.
“Isabella was a monster,” said Engel, who brought the issue to the borough in 2022. “Given what’s going on around the world and here in Montreal and this borough with a huge spike in antisemitism, how is this still here? Wouldn’t the city and borough mayor want to look good?”
“We are fully aware of the unease of many citizens, including members of the Jewish community, about the presence of a tombstone of Queen Isabella in MacDonald Park” said Katahwa’s office, acknowledging the atrocities and the desire of many local residents to remove it, adding, “we prefer not to comment on the matter as we are in the process of fine-tuning the details with Councillor Sonny Moroz.”
Moroz wishes this “wasn’t a story, but residents want it removed and they need somebody to push to make it happen… This was about celebrating imperialism, and it no longer has a place here. It’s very simple.” n