The city of Edmundston has lost a number of important statues.

Six giant wooden sculptures depicting Wolastoqiyik Indians and settlers in northwestern New Brunswick have stood near City Hall for decades.

The remaining statues were dismantled two weeks ago after one rotted from the inside and collapsed.

Mayor Eric Marquis said that after the statue fell, the others were examined and were also in poor condition.

Because people often take photos standing next to them, the statues were removed for public safety reasons.

The sculptures, which are over three metres high, were carved from Weymouth pine by Albert Deveau using a chainsaw. (City of Edmundston)

“Honestly, it feels empty where we had these sculptures. … There is still the plaque explaining the sculptures, but it feels really empty,” he said Information Morning Fredericton. “So of course we hope that we can find something to replace them.”

The late sculptor Albert Deveau carved the 10-foot-tall figures from white pine using a chainsaw. He was known for his work carving statues for other communities and was also passionate about local history.

Edmundston Mayor Eric Marquis says removing the statues is like losing a part of the city’s history. (Radio-Canada)

The work was carried out over a period of several years during the Foire Brayonne, a major summer festival in Edmundston, from 1986 to 1991.

Each statue represented a different group – the Irish, the English, the Acadians, the Wolastoqiyik, the Americans and the French Canadians.

“It’s really a part of Edmundston’s history that we had to remove,” Marquis said.

Marquis said he went to the Foire Brayonne as a young child and watched Deveau carve, using various chainsaws to create the entire statue, including the fine details.

Albert Deveau, who died in May 2022, was passionate about the history of the Edmundston area. (Bernard Lebel/Radio-Canada)

Deveau maintained the statues over the years, sometimes making changes, but shortly before his death in the winter of 2022, Marquis met with him and said Deveau told him the statues were in poor condition and nearing the end of their lives.

Marquis said it is not possible to repair the wooden figures, but the city is looking into ways to possibly renew them or replace them with something else.

The wooden statues in Edmundston stood for 40 years. (City of Edmundston)

He said the project is still in its early stages.

“We need to set up a committee with votes to figure out how best to honor these families, but also how best to honor the work of Mr. Deveau.”