This bronze statue atop a stone base, on the east grounds of the Manitoba Legislative Building in Winnipeg, commemorates Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759-1796). Fundraising for the statue began in 1911 under the direction of a committee of the Winnipeg Burns Club No. 197, including Alexander Jamieson and William Anderson Weir.
The statue was unveiled on 12 October 1936 at a ceremony attended by Lieutenant Governor William Johnston Tupper, Premier John Bracken, Winnipeg Mayor John Queen, committee chair John Young Reid, banker John McEachern, cleric William Gordon Maclean, lawyer Richard Deans Waugh, and lawyer Arthur Long Dysart, among others. A plaque attached to the monument was unveiled in 1952 by Premier Douglas Lloyd Campbell and Burns Club President William Anderson Martin.
Robert Burns statue (August 2010)
Source: Gordon Goldsborough
Robert Burns statue (April 2025)
Source: Milan Lukes
Robert Burns statue (September 2025)
Source: Glen Toews
Plaques on the Robert Burns statue (March 2025)
Source: Glen ToewsSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.88525, W97.14516
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitoba Legislative Building (450 Broadway, Winnipeg)
Memorable Manitobans: Alexander Jamieson (1868-1959)
Memorable Manitobans: William Anderson Weir (1859-1946)
“Winnipeg’s monument to Bobby Burns,” Winnipeg Tribune, 15 May 1911, page 1.
“City’s backstreet offer declined as Legislative site found for statue,” Winnipeg Free Press, 31 August 1936, page 1.
“Monument for Scotia’s bard,” Winnipeg Tribune, 26 September 1936, page 9.
“Scotland’s sons gather to honor bard at cornerstone laying Saturday afternoon,” Winnipeg Tribune, 28 September 1936, page 2.
“Winnipeg Scots defy cold to see Burns’ statue unveiled,” Winnipeg Tribune, 13 October 1936, page 10.
“Burns plaque unveiled,” Winnipeg Tribune, 28 October 1952, page 3.
We thank Glen Toews and Milan Lukes for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 17 October 2025
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