Hollywood film star and grandson of the late Tommy Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland, will represent the Douglas family for the unveiling of a new bronze statue of the former premier on Friday, Sept. 10 at 3 p.m. at the Riverfront Boardwalk. Douglas' daughter, actress Shirley Douglas, was unable to attend due to her health, but her son will be able to make the trip to Weyburn for the unveiling.The unveiling is the culmination of over two years of work by a local committee and international sculptor Lea Vivot; the sculptor has donated the statue to the city, and the city was responsible for the cost of installing the work.The "Greatest Canadian", who was the Premier of Saskatchewan and a former MP, popularly known as the "father of medicare" in Canada, is the subject of the sculpture by Lea Vivot, a native of Czechoslovakia who now makes her home in Canada.Vivot paid a visit to Weyburn on Aug. 9-11 to unpack the statue, which she had completed and shipped here, and to also see the place where it would be installed. While here, she met with local organizers and city officials who worked with her to make this possible, and toured some of the sights in Weyburn, such as the Soo Line Historical Museum, and the T.C. Douglas Centre, which houses memorabilia on Douglas.In speaking to why the late premier should be honoured, Mayor Debra Button said, "The significance would be that Tommy Douglas had a primary role in shaping Saskatchewan, and we do owe a lot of things to his work. He was also elected by the people of Canada as the 'Greatest Canadian', so I think it's only fitting we recognize him with this statue."The mayor added that from what she has seen of the statue, "It really captures Tommy Douglas. Her generosity to the City of Weyburn, and really to the province of Saskatchewan, is incredible. She could've sold that statue for a large amount of money; we're pleased she came to Weyburn, and I know she was pleased with what she saw during her visit here."Vivot is internationally renowned for her art, and currently makes her home in Kleinburg, Ont., with bases of operation in many locales, including Toronto, New York, Acapulco (where she winters) and in her home country of Prague, Czech Republic.She began as a sculptor in the 1970s, doing bronze sculptures, and using benches as a trademark in many of her works. In 2003, Vivot was honoured by her home country as the "Most Distinguished Czech Woman in the World", and she dedicated statues of women to past, present and future laureates of this award.The program on Friday, weather permitting, will feature former mayor Isabelle Butters as the emcee, along with remarks by Ross McMurtry, who worked with Butters on the committee to bring the statue here, and by Vivot.Greetings will also be given by MP Ed Komarnicki and Mayor Debra Button, along with provincial NDP leader Dwain Lingenfelter.Cake and coffee will be served by the City at the Legion Hall after the ceremonies. If there is inclement weather, the statue will be unveiled, and the speeches and reception will be held at the Legion Hall.
