The Honourable Pam Parsons, Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality, was pleased to announce funding support today for PerSIStence Theatre Company’s “Raise Her Up” statue campaign.

This project aims to raise the first statue of a historical woman in the City of St. John’s. The statue will be of Armine Nutting Gosling, a pioneer in social reform and feminism, who led the fight for women in Newfoundland and Labrador to gain the right to vote.

The Provincial Government is providing $40,000 to the “Raise Her Up” campaign to support the establishment of the Gosling statue.

This statue will become the third named statue of a woman in Newfoundland and Labrador, joining statues of Shawnadithit in Boyd’s Cove and Amelia Earhart in Harbour Grace. Local sculptor Sheila Coultas will also be the first woman to design a public statue in the province.

Minister Parsons was joined by the Honourable John G. Abbott, Minister of Children, Seniors and Social Development and MHA for St. John’s East-Quidi Vidi, and representatives from PerSIStence Theatre Company for the announcement.

Quotes
“Armine Nutting Gosling was a leader in the fight for women to gain the right to vote in our province. Her statue will serve as a reminder of the path we are still paving towards gender equality. Hats off to PerSIStence Theatre Company for shining a light on an incredible woman in our province’s history.”
Honourable Pam Parsons
Minister Responsible for Women and Gender Equality

“As the MHA for St. John’s East-Quidi Vidi, I am more than pleased to see the Provincial Government support this project. Raising a statue in Bannerman Park to honour Ms. Gosling so close to her original home in St. John’s and the Colonial Building is a fitting tribute to her role in advancing democracy and inclusivity within the province.”
Honourable John G. Abbott
Minister for Children, Seniors and Social Development and MHA for St. John’s East-Quidi Vidi

“We are very thankful for this support from the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in raising a statue to honour Armine Nutting Gosling and the suffrage movement she led. The Gosling statue will be the first of a woman in our provincial capital, and is an important step in making our public history more inclusive.”
Dr. Margot Duley
Chair of the Gosling Statue Committee, PerSIStence Theatre Company

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Learn more
Raise Her Up – The Gosling Statue

Office of Women and Gender Equality

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