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Here's why there's an empty statue base set up outside a Vancouver landmark

The people setting up the display are hoping it sparks important conversations
Cameron Thomson
Cameron Thomson
YWCA_Reserved_For_Her
If you happen to be by Canada Place this month and spot a base like where a statue would go, but the statue is missing, there's a reason for that. Photo courtesy YWCA Metro Vancouver

To address the lack of women-centred statues in Canada, a statue with no figure at all is being set up at Canada Place this month. 

On March 8, International Women's Day, the YWCA Metro Vancouver will be unveiling an empty statue base dubbed "Reserved for Her."

"YWCA Metro Vancouver estimates that just 12% of permanent public statues in Canada commemorate women, compared to roughly 65% that depict and honour men," the group stated in a press release. "The YWCA commissioned the Reserved For Her statue-less base to be a platform to celebrate and recognize local girls and women who are working to make history.

This discrimination is especially evident for Black, Indigenous and racialized women, who are almost never represented in landmarks, sculptures, statues and street art."

The temporary installment will allow the public to interact with the statue-less base throughout March and are encouraged to step up onto the base and share images to support further awareness and discussion around gender equity.

The installation will be supported by a social campaign run by the YWCA Metro Vancouver celebrating and telling the stories of local women who are making a difference in their communities.