I’d like to introduce you to “Cranbrook Ed”. Cranbrook is a small city in southeastern British Columbia with an important history as a railway hub. Situated in the heart of its historic downtown is this statue of an elephant, which piqued my curiosity. An elephant raising its leg is a somewhat unusual sight in Canada, and I found the story behind the statue to be a classic bit of Canadiana.
Charlie Ed was an Asian elephant born in the wild about 1910. He was captured and became part of the Sells-Floto Circus in 1922, a performing animal that did tricks. In the summer of 1926 the circus traveled to Cranbrook and fourteen elephants, including Charlie Ed, escaped the circus train and headed into the surrounding forests. This inspired what likely is a unique Canadian telegraph warning — that trains and rail employees were to be on the look out for free-range elephants.
The circus offered a reward and then the adventure really began. The only elephant hunt likely ever held in the Rocky Mountains was on. Many of the elephants were quickly recaptured, but Ed was wily and eluded his pursuers for over a month. He was recovered near the town of Cranbrook and was happily united with his trainer, thinner but none the worse for his adventure.
Ed was brought into Cranbrook and an impromptu parade was held after which the elephant made an honorary citizen of the the town. It was during this ceremony that the mayor renamed “Charlie Ed”; he was now “Cranbrook Ed”. This statue of him was erected in 2009 and awaits your visit!
