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GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY PAVES THE WAY FOR THE INSTALLATION of THE LONG-AWAITED RIZAL MONUMENT IN NIAGARA FALLS

The Filipino community and officials of the local government and Philippine Consulate during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Rizal Monument in Niagara Falls (photo courtesy of Mr. Dennis C. Bustos)

09 March 2025 – Consul General Angelica C. Escalona joined Mayor Jim Diodati of the City of Niagara Falls, members of the City Council, Member of Parliament Tony Baldinelli, Member of Provincial Parliament Wayne Gates and officials of the Niagara Parks Commission led by Commissioner Bob Gale at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Monument overlooking Niagara Falls, one of the most popular tourist spots in the world.

The groundbreaking ceremony was organized by the Filipino community in the Niagara Region spearheaded by the Filipino-Canadian Association of Niagara and the Jose Rizal Memorial Committee. Various Filipino community organizations, including the Knights of Rizal, lobbied for the construction of the monument for many years.

The monument will be the seventh Rizal monument in Canada. The other monuments are located in the cities of Toronto, Markham and Brampton in Ontario; Winnipeg in Manitoba; Airdrie in Alberta; and Montreal in Quebec. 

The installation of a Rizal monument in Niagara Falls holds a special meaning as it is the only place in Canada which was verified to have been visited by Dr. Rizal. In 1998, the National Historical Institute (now National Historical Commission of the Philippines) donated a historical marker to the Filipino community citing the visit of Dr. Rizal to the falls on 12 May 1888. In 2023, the City of Niagara Falls, through the Niagara Parks Commission, approved the installation of a monument of Dr. Rizal with the marker.

“It was here at this very spot that Dr. Jose Rizal paused to admire the beauty and grandeur of Niagara Falls. This monument will stand as a lasting symbol of friendship between Canada and the Philippines and a tribute the many contributions of Filipinos to Canada”, Commissioner Gale said during the groundbreaking ceremony.  

Noting the fact there will soon be seven Rizal monuments across Canada, Consul General Escalona said “this reflects not only the growing number of Filipino migrants in this country, but also the growing recognition of their value to Canadian society.”

Mr. Rodrigo Cuizon, Chair of the Jose Rizal Memorial Committee, emphasized that the event is a milestone not just for the Filipino community in Niagara but for Filipinos all over world.

 The unveiling of the monument is scheduled in June 2025.

 Consul General Angelica C. Escalona (6^th from right) and Mayor Jim Diodati of Niagara Falls (7^th from right) lead the groundbreaking ceremony (photo courtesy of Mr. Dennis C. Bustos)Consul General Escalona with members of the Filipino community in Niagara (photo courtesy of Mr. Dennis C. Bustos)

Consul General Escalona with Mr. Rodrigo Cuizon (rightmost), Chair of the Jose Rizal Memorial Committee in Niagara (photo courtesy of Mr. Dennis C. Bustos)

 The historical marker donated by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines reads  “Dr. Jose Rizal (1861-1896). The National Hero of the Philippines visited this magnificent falls and paused between the two rocks on May 12, 1888.”

Consul General Escalona, Member of Parliament Tony Baldinelli (7^th from right, back), Member of Provincial Parliament Wayne Gates (10^th from left) and members of the Filipino community in front of the Niagara Falls (photo courtesy of Mr. Dennis C. Bustos)

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