Government of Canada Recognizes the National Historic Importance of Charles Marega (1871-1939)
News Release
December 7, 2017 Vancouver, British Columbia Parks Canada Agency
Canada’s national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas enable Canadians to experience their rich and varied history in a special way. To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the Government of Canada invites Canadians to experience nature and learn more about our history.
Today, John Aldag, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale - Langley City, on behalf of the Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Minister responsible for Parks Canada, Catherine McKenna, commemorated Charles Marega (1871-1939) as a national historic person with the unveiling of a HSMBC plaque. A special ceremony was held at the Il Museo at the Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia.
The Government of Canada is committed to connecting Canadians to the significant people, places, and events that contributed to our country’s rich diverse heritage. A highly skilled artist, Charles Marega created public monuments and architectural sculptures for major architectural and engineering works that are recognized today as Canadian landmarks, including his best-known work, the “Lions” of the Lions Gate Bridge in Vancouver.
Working first in the Beaux-Arts style and later in Art Deco, Charles Marega established a presence for sculpture in European styles within the developing West Coast artistic community, where he helped to established both the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Vancouver School of Decorative and Applied Arts, now known as the Emily Carr University of Art and Design.
This year also marks the centennial of national historic sites and Parks Canada invites Canadians to discover and be inspired by the stories of the people, places, and events that shaped the Canada of today. We encourage you to learn more about our country’s history, and discover truly Canadian places and stories with Parks Canada.
Quotes
“I am pleased that this outstanding sculptor, Charles Marega, is now commemorated as a national historic person. He brought lasting beauty to the West Coast by creating many of Vancouver’s most recognizable public art pieces. As we celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, I encourage Canadians to learn more about the contributions of Charles Marega in our country’s history.”
John Aldag
Member of Parliament for Cloverdale - Langley City
Quick Facts
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Born in 1871 into a middle-class Italian family in Gorizia, then within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Charles Marega studied the art of sculpture and the trade of artistic plaster design in Italy and Vienna. He immigrated to Vancouver in 1909.
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Charles Marega also executed decorative plasterwork for a number of theatres, fine residences and commercial buildings, as well as a number of small studio pieces.
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Created in 1919, the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada advises the Minister of Environment and Climate Change regarding the national historic significance of places, people and events that have marked Canada’s history.
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Contacts
Laura Judson
Public Relations and Communications Officer
Parks Canada
250-654-4086
laura.judson@pc.gc.ca
Media Relations
Parks Canada Agency
855-862-1812
pc.media@pc.gc.ca