Stolen sculpture's head found at Ontario smelter

Days after a two-tonne, seven-metre-high bronze statue of a famous Ukrainian poet was reported stolen from apark in Oakville, Ont., its head has turned up at a nearby smelter.

The statue of Taras Shevchenko — a 19th-centuryartist and poet credited with establishingthe modern Ukrainian literary language — was discovered missing onthe weekendby two visitors to a16-acre memorial park in North Oakville. Police believe itcould have been stolen anytime between Dec. 15-31.

Andrew Gregorovich, of theTaras Shevchenko Museumthat owns the statue, said he heard early Tuesday afternoonthat the figure's head had been located at a smelter in Burlington, about 25 kilometres southwest of Oakville.

The discovery lent credibility to theories that the statue was stolen for the value of thescrapmetal. Halton Region police estimated the value of the statue at $20,000.

"It's good news in a sense that we know that the head has survived but it's devastating to know that the rest of the statue was destroyed apparently," said Gregorovich, who is the vice-president and librarianof the Toronto-based museum.

Theft required large equipment

Thestatuehad a base that was more than three metres high and was about seven metres high in total, Gregorovich said. It stood in the centre of the park, partially obscured by trees.

Gregorovich called it "unbelievable" that such a "large monument" wascarted away,pointing out thatthe removal would likely have required large equipment such as a crane to lift it from the marble stand.

The bronze figurewas a gift from Ukraineand was unveiled on July 1, 1951, tomark the 60th anniversary of Ukrainian-Canadian settlement.

It's not the first statue that has gone missing from the park. A smaller bronze statue of Shevchenko was stolen several years ago fromthepark's entrance.

Shevchenko, who died in 1861 at the age of 47,is revered by Ukrainians around the world and is "considered a genius of Ukrainian poetry," Gregorovich said.

In his poetry, Shevchenko asks people to not forget him with the words "in the family of the free softly, kindly, remember me."

About 600 statues have been erected in his honour around the world in such locations as Moscow,Buenos Airesand Winnipeg, Gregorovich said.

The museum's board of directors is scheduled to meet on Jan. 8to discuss whether to replace the statue.