Fredericton’s Historic Beaver Statue Finds New Home

One of Fredericton’s most important artworks, has a new, permanent home in the city’s Beaverbrook Art Gallery.

The 3000 pound limestone statue depicting a family of beavers was originally commissioned in 1959 as a 60th birthday gift to Sir Max Aitken, know as Lord Beaverbrook, who served as chancellor of the University of New Brunswick from 1947-1963. He also funded the building of the gallery that bears his name and assembled its original collection.

The city commissioned professional conservator Todd Vassallo from New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, to restore the piece that had been slightly damaged and worn from exposure to 65 years of weather.

That statue originally resided in Officers Square, but was relocated after the squares recent renovations. It will now be displayed in the front glass vestibule at the entrance of the gallery, visible from both the inside and outside.