16. The Golden Boy stands on tiptoe on the dome of the Legislative Building in my hometown. Do you know where I am?
From Quiz Going for the Gold!
Answer:
Winnipeg, Manitoba
The Golden Boy - all 5.25 metres of him (that's 17.2 feet if you don't do metric) - has stood atop the Legislature dome since he was hoisted into place in 1920 (except for a brief period in 2003, when he was taken down to have his gilding refurbished). He faces north, to the mineral-rich, forest-covered, hydro-electric power-generating region of Manitoba that represents much of the wealth of this province. He's had an interesting history. He was created by French sculptor Charles Gardet in 1918, cast in bronze and gilded with gold leaf at the Barbidienne Foundry near Paris. The Foundry was all but destroyed in a bombing raid, but the Golden Boy was unscathed. He was transported to the coast and loaded onto a ship bound for Canada. However, the ship was commandeered to be used as a troop transport vessel, and for months, the Golden Boy lay in the hold while the ship covered thousands of ocean miles, delivering and picking up troops. With the end of World War One, the Golden Boy finally made his way to Canada, where the ship carrying him docked in Halifax, Nova Scotia. From there he travelled by train and arrived in Winnipeg just in time to be hoisted into place for the opening ceremonies of the new Legislative Building. In his left arm he carries a sheaf of wheat (another symbol of the wealth of Manitoba) and in his raised right hand he bears a torch, symbolically lighting the way to a bright future. For many years, until the advent of high-rise buildings, the tip of the Golden Boy's torch was the highest point in the city at 77 metres (255 feet) above ground level.