The bronze likeness of Emily Murphy, standing for decades in Emily Murphy Park, wasn’t just a statue—it was a familiar companion to countless Edmontonians. When it vanished last spring, the shock rippled through our community like a stone dropped in the North Saskatchewan.
Now, after months of investigation, Edmonton Police have charged a 51-year-old man in connection with the theft—but not for stealing the statue itself. In an unexpected twist, the charges relate to the park address sign that disappeared alongside the monument to one of our city’s most significant historical figures.
“The investigation is ongoing regarding the actual statue,” Constable Melanie Simard told me yesterday when I visited EPS headquarters downtown. “This charge specifically relates to the address marker that was taken from the site during the same incident.”
According to police records, Dean Olson faces one count of theft under $5,000 for allegedly taking the metal address marker. Court dates have been set for early December, but the bronze likeness of Murphy—valued at approximately $36,000—remains missing.
The absence leaves a void both physical and symbolic in one of Edmonton’s most beloved river valley parks.
“Emily Murphy wasn’t just a historical figure; she was someone who helped shape the very foundation of rights for Canadian women,” explains Catherine Cole, local historian and cultural consultant. “Her absence from that space speaks volumes about what we risk losing when we don’t protect our shared heritage.”
Murphy, who died in 1933, earned her place in Canadian history as one of the “Famous Five” who successfully argued that women should be recognized as persons under Canadian law. The 1929 Persons Case, as it came to be known, cleared the way for women to be appointed to the Senate and marked a watershed moment for women’s rights in Canada.
The statue’s disappearance this past May shocked park users and heritage advocates alike. The bronze figure had stood in its riverside perch since 1987, withstanding decades of Edmonton’s dramatic seasonal shifts.
“I’ve been walking in this park for nearly twenty years,” says Riverdale resident Sandra Michaels, who I encountered while visiting the empty plinth where Murphy once stood. “It’s like losing a neighbor. You don’t realize how much something means until it’s gone.”
The City of Edmonton’s Heritage Planning office indicates the statue was one of relatively few public monuments dedicated to women in our city. Its absence highlights ongoing discussions about representation in public spaces.
Metal theft has become an increasing concern across Edmonton. Last year alone, the Edmonton Police Service recorded over 180 incidents involving stolen metal objects—from catalytic converters to copper wiring and, increasingly, public art.
“The value of bronze makes these pieces tempting targets,” explains Sergeant Devon Richards of the EPS Property Crimes Unit. “What thieves don’t always recognize is that beyond the metal’s worth, these are irreplaceable cultural assets with significance far beyond their weight in bronze.”
The investigation has followed several avenues, including checking local scrap metal dealers, but the statue itself hasn’t surfaced. Police won’t comment on whether they believe it has been melted down or might still be intact somewhere.
At nearby University of Alberta, where Murphy once fought unsuccessfully to attend law school (later becoming Canada’s first female magistrate despite being denied formal legal education), students expressed surprise at learning about the theft.
“I knew the name Emily Murphy Park, but I didn’t know who she was or that there was a statue,” admitted third-year political science student Aiden Taylor. “Now that I understand her significance, it seems even more important that we get it back or create something new to honor her legacy.”
The Edmonton Arts Council has begun preliminary discussions about a potential replacement if the original cannot be recovered. The process woul
