This 11-foot tall bronze statue of Lieutenant-Colonel John By was erected by the Historical Society of Canada and unveiled by Governor General Roland Michener on 14 August 1971. The Society hired Quebec-born sculptor Joseph-Émile Brunet to create the statue.
Colonel John By was born and educated in England and first came to Canada in 1802. As a member of the Royal Engineers, he worked on the first small locks on the St. Lawrence River as well as the fortifications of Quebec. He returned to England in 1811 and fought in the Peninsular War, but came back to Canada in 1826 to spend five summers heading the construction of the Rideau Canal.
