Norman Bethune Square

Norman Bethune Square
Statue of N. Bethune in Norman Bethune Square
Type	Small urban square
Location	Quartier Concordia
Coordinates	45°29′46″N 73°34′46″W / 45.495973°N 73.579439°W / 45.495973; -73.579439
Created	March 23, 1976
Operated by	Montreal City Council
Status	Open all year

Norman Bethune Square (French: Place Norman-Bethune) is a small urban square located in Downtown Montreal at the northwest intersection of Guy Street and De Maisonneuve Boulevard West. It is situated in close proximity to Concordia University's Sir George Williams campus and is opposite Guy-Concordia Montreal Metro station. The main feature of the square is the statue of Norman Bethune, as well as trees, lighting, benches and an expanded sidewalk.

Norman Bethune

Inaugurated on March 23, 1976, Norman Bethune Square is named for Norman Bethune (1890–1939), a Canadian doctor from Montreal who practiced between 1938–1939 in China during World War II. The People's Republic of China offered the statue of Norman Bethune to the city of Montreal.^[1]

Although he was born in Gravenhurst, Ontario and died in China, it was in Montreal than Norman Bethune lived the longest—for eight years, from 1928 to 1936. It was during his stay in Montreal that he became a renowned thoracic surgeon, that his ideas and convictions took shape, guiding him to a profound commitment towards social and humanitarian causes.

Redesign

At the time of the 70th anniversary of the Bethune's participation in the World War II in China, the City of Montreal undertook a major renovation project of the square at a cost of C$3 million dollars. The site was under substantial renovations as part of the redevelopment of De Maisonneuve Boulevard. The newly restored statue of Norman Bethune was unveiling on October 14, 2008. The square was completed in 2009.^[1]

Gallery

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See also

• Bethune Memorial House

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} "CHRONOLOGY OF PLACE NORMAN BETHUNE AND SCULPTURE". Concordia University (Montreal). http://mediarelations.concordia.ca/documents/Bethune_chrono_EN.pdf. Retrieved 29 March 2010. 

• Norman Bethune
• Ville de Montréal, Les rues de Montréal, Répertoire historique. Éditions du Méridien. 1995.

Coordinates: 45°29′46″N 73°34′46″W / 45.495973°N 73.579439°W / 45.495973; -73.579439