SOUCY, Cléophas (1879-1950)

Cléophas Soucy attended the École des arts et métiers de Montréal and is recognized as having been Canada’s first official Parliamentary Sculptor. Initially hired for decorative work on the Confederation Building and the National Research Council building, he went on to complete sculptures for the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower and for the Senate in 1936, followed by the coat of arms at the main entrance to Parliament. After work on the building ornaments was suspended during the Second World War, Soucy returned in 1948 with a team of apprentices; at this time, he was also studying gothic art in Boston at the studio of John Evans. Over the course of his career, he produced busts in wood and stone of important contemporary figures that are now kept in public and private collections across Canada.