On February 14, the well-known statue of Gassy Jack, who Gastown is named after, was toppled by protestor during the Annual Women’s Memorial March.
The Gassy Jack statue was sculpted by Vern Simpson in 1970 and was located at the crossroad of Carrall and Water streets, where Gassy Jack built his Globe Saloon in 1867, and it’s known as one of the first buildings in Vancouver.
Gassy Jack’s real name was as John Deighton, and was a bar owner in Vancouver, but what most people don’t know is that the founding father of Gastown is also a man with an unethical history. Deighton was first married to a Squamish woman who died around the 1870, Then Deighton married her niece who was only 12 years old around the time. It might have been common at that time, but this kind of action is still morally wrong.
The removal of Gassy Jack statue has been demanded to be removed since 2020 by activists due to their demand on removing the colonists and the racists. An online petition also demanded the removal and has obtained a total of 23,106 signatures until today. So, it is not hard to see that this statue has always been a controversial subject. Since Deighton’s action will be considered a crime in current society.
The statue was toppled during the Women’s Memorial March by the participants of the march. Participants covered the statue with red paint and wrapped it with red rope around the statue neck then pulled the statue down. Although it is a cheerful thing that the statue is finally being taken down, the topple of Gassy Jack is actually happening without the approval of authorities like the local government which has potential danger and might cause injury to people. Luckily, no one was hurt in the incident, according to Vancouver police. With such a big action, of course the government won’t stay silent.
“The City of Vancouver has been in consultations with Squamish Nation on the right way to remove the Gassy Jack statue and recognize the truth of John Deighton’s harmful legacy,” said Kennedy Stewart, Vancouver mayor. “Today’s actions were dangerous and undermines ongoing work with Squamish to guide steps to reconciliation.” Wilson Williams, the spokesperson of Squamish Nation confirmed the fact that there were negotiations ongoing for the removal of the statue in a “culturally safe and respectful way.”
The government was clearly unhappy about the fact that the statue is being taken down without their approval since they claimed they are already going through the process and negotiations on the statue. However, many have been requesting the removal of the statue since 2020, and it is difficult for the general public to recognize their efforts. Keeping the statue in Gastown is undoubtedly a damage to the First Nations people and the quicker it is being taken down, the better for Canadians to truth and reconciliation. This type of statue should be taken down as soon as possible, and people have their rights to finish the job for the government if everything that the government does is promises.
Sources:
Who was ‘Gassy Jack’ and why was his statue toppled in Vancouver?
Gassy Jack statue in Vancouver’s Gastown toppled during women’s memorial march, video shows
Vancouver’s Gassy Jack statue toppled during march honouring missing Indigenous women