Hiram Walker Parkette
Photo by Steven Kriemadis
300 Devonshire Road
The Hiram Walker Parkette is located on the northeast corner of Devonshire Road at Riverside Drive East, and includes new pathways, concrete and flat paver work, grading, drainage, retaining walls, raised landscape beds, landscaping, benches, bronze plaques, lighting, and the complete Hiram Walker Commemorative Statue in bronze.
Hiram Walker Commemorative Sculpture
2021, Bronze, 11 feet tall. Hiram Walker statue created by sculptor Mark Williams. Whisky Barrels created by sculptor Laura Williams. Cast in bronze by John Vickers, Hopper Foundry. Unveiled July 2, 2022.
The statue was created to honour one of Windsor’s most significant contributors. He was head of a family with a name so deeply entrenched in Windsor that it touches on facets of architecture, history, industry, neighbourhoods and pop culture. A true early industrialist, he built his distillery, Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd., on the Windsor banks of the Detroit River. He created the world-famous Canadian Club Whisky, and was a charitable man who donated money across the Windsor, Walkerville and Detroit areas. Mr. Walker established the neighbourhood that would become known as Walkerville, and commissioned leading architects to construct impressive public and private buildings still visible today.
Statue sponsors include the City of Windsor, through the Public Art Endowment, and Ward 4 funds; Windsor International Airport (YQG); WindsorEssex Community Foundation; Windsor Port Authority; Mr. Michael George Solcz; Mr. Mike Brkovich and Mr. Ian Gourlay of the Walkerville Brewery; Mr. Jim Scorgie; Beam Suntory - Canadian Club; ENWIN Utilities Ltd.; Fortis Group; Hiram Walker & Sons Ltd.; and Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island.
“This statue was commissioned on the 200th anniversary of the birth of Hiram Walker in honour of his incredible and lasting contributions to the Town of Walkerville and the City of Windsor,” said Mayor Drew Dilkens, who spearheaded the project. “Hiram Walker was a successful entrepreneur and community builder whose legacy endures through the continued operation of the distillery but also through the lasting impact of his many charitable donations. Today’s City of Windsor would be a ‘shadow of itself’ without the indelible contributions of Hiram Walker, which is why we proudly honour him with a larger-than-life statue portraying the young Mr. Walker – plans in hand – ready to build his community. Cheers to you, Hiram Walker!”
The below sketches and photographs give an overview of the design, and a view of the finished public art installation at this parkette.
Photo by Marty Gervais
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