Eleanor Milne

In 1961 Milne was appointed Dominion Sculptor of Canada.^[6] The first woman to hold the position, she was selected over nearly 20 other applicants. During her career, which lasted until her retirement in 1993, she completed for the Centre Block of the Parliament of Canada a cycle of twelve stained-glass windows depicting the floral emblems of Canada's provinces and territories. She oversaw the restoration of the ceiling in the House of Commons, and carved a 120-foot long frieze depicting the history of Canada until World War I,^[3] which was carved on site between 1962 and 1974.^[7]

Although Milne was required to work within a Gothic Revival framework, she worked to incorporate elements of Canadian history that went beyond stereotypical symbols like maple leaves or beavers. As Sandra Alfoldy explains: "In Milne's realistic approach to Canada's history, bored monarchs and exhausted explorers are bound in with the social injustices behind the founding of the country."^{: 116 [6]} She points to the narratives depicted in Milne's piece "History of Canada Frieze" which depicts the expulsion of Acadians in 1755 and positions Indigenous peoples as strong and positive social players as an example.^[6]: 116

In her role as Dominion Sculptor Milne created work for other government organizations as well, including the chair used by the speaker of the council of the Northwest Territories. At her retirement she was succeeded by Maurice Joanisse, who had begun his career as a carver under her tutelage.^[2]

Milne also published wood engravings and illustrated books during her career.^[5] Later in life the art of carving became difficult for her, and she taught herself instead to create art using a computer.^[2] She was a member of the Order of Canada, to which she was named in 1988.^[3]

Milne died at her Ottawa home on May 17, 2014.^[1]

"The Stained Glass Windows in the House of Commons". YouTube. PARLyouth. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 3 March 2018.