To remove or not to remove: Debate over taking horns off Viking statue in Manitoba community
CTV
A Facebook post has sparked a debate in Gimli about whether to make a cosmetic change to its iconic statue.
A Facebook post has sparked a debate in Gimli about whether to make a cosmetic change to its iconic statue.
The 15-foot tall Viking statue in Gimli has been standing watch over the Icelandic community since 1967.
"It’s great! It brings a lot of people and it’s been here forever!” said resident Mark Quberko.
But recently, a controversy over the statue has emerged in the community. Specifically the horns on his helmet, and whether it's historically accurate.
"There’s never been a Viking helmet found with horns," said Julianna Roberts, the executive director of the New Iceland Heritage Museum.
It prompted one Gimli resident to ask on social media if there has ever been a discussion about removing the horns from the Viking statue.
"It's kind of embarrassing," the resident wrote.
