The Lion Monument

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2007

Photo Source - Wikipedia

Some of you call it the QueenE, others the QEW but were you aware that the highway is now 71 years old (as of 2010)? This monument was erected in the median of the highway where it began at the Humber River. In the mid-70s, due to widening of the highway, the monument was moved to its present location, in parkland just south of the highway. A 1975 Toronto Historical Board plaque is attached to the monument. As well, there is a message cut into the stone on the north side under the lion. Here's what the plaque says:

Plaque coordinates: 43.633194 -79.470393

This monument marked the eastern entrance to the Queen Elizabeth Way, opened in 1939 by Her Majesty Elizabeth, the Queen Consort, in the company of His Majesty, King George VI. It was designed by W.L. Somerville, Architect, and Frances Loring, Sculptor. Florence Wyle assisted in modelling the royal profiles and the crown. When the Queen Elizabeth Way was widened, the monument was moved to this site by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications in July, 1974.

Photo by Alan L Brown - Posted June, 2007

Here's what the message cut into the stone says:

The Queen Elizabeth Way was opened by the King and Queen in June 1939, marking the first visit of a reigning sovereign to a sister dominion of the empire. The courage and resolution of their majesties in undertaking the royal visit in the face of imminent war have inspired the people of this province to complete this work in the empire's darkest hour in full confidence of victory and a lasting peace.

Related web pages
The Lion Monument
Queen Elizabeth Way

Related Toronto plaques
The Royal Tour of 1939
Frances Loring and Florence Wyle

More
Transportation

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted January 4, 2011
In reply to the question below, I believe the profiles are in the form of medallions on each side of the column, near the base. You can make out one of them in a photo here. Perhaps close-up photos will be added. The marker refers to the "eastern entrance" of the highway. There actually isn't one. Because of its U-shape, the QEW is unique in Ontario in that directional signs refer to "Toronto" and "Niagara" instead of East/West. The highway is also numbered Highway 451, though you won't see that posted anywhere. It's part of the 400-series of high-speed roads, but was first called Middle Road when opened to traffic in 1936. Historian Mike Filey tells an anecdote about US visitors who, seeing "ER" on lampposts along the highway (Elizabeth Regina, Latin for Queen Elizabeth), were surprised Ontario had named a route for Eleanor Roosevelt! One hopes today we'd name such a route for a prominent Ontarian or for something of historical significance to our home and native land. -Wayne

Posted December 25, 2010
Where are the said royal profiles mentioned, in relation to the crown on the edifice?

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