Phil Gaglardi - Kamloops, BC - Statues of Historic Figures on Waymarking.com

The plaza/park is a lovely place to sit and munch on one's lunch, as evidenced by the number of natives found doing that very thing of a summer noontime. Naturally, there is a statue of "Flyin Phil" himself just inside the main entrance. The statue, unveiled July 20th, 2009, is essentially life sized and depicts Flyin' Phil in a business suit, "in a speaking position, one hand and finger jabbing the air for emphasis, the other holding what could be a set of highway plans, and one cowboy-booted foot cocked on its heel." The bronze statue stands atop a 5 to 6 foot tall exposed aggregate concrete plinth with two plaques affixed.

Gaglardi's likeness was created by local Kamloops sculptor Terry Norlander from photos given to him by Gaglardi biographer Mel Rothenburger, Daily News Editor for the Kamloops Daily News

Gaglardi Square

Philip Arthur Gaglardi (January 13, 1913 – September 23, 1995), sometimes known as Flyin’ Phil or even Sorry Phil, was a politician in the Canadian province of British Columbia. He served as Minister of Highways in the BC government from 1952 to 1968.

He was first elected to the legislature in the 1952 election as a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) as part of the British Columbia Social Credit League. The party had enough seats to form a minority government, but had no leader. Gaglardi ran for the post, but lost in a vote of caucus members by 10 to 9 to W.A.C. Bennett. Gagliardi became a leading member of Bennett’s cabinet.

His term as Minister of Highways was marked by rapid expansion of the province’s paved road system, as well as the completion of most of the major road bridges in British Columbia.

He is probably mostly remembered for his flamboyant style. He was first noted for the “Sorry for the delays” signs he had put up at road construction areas (hence, “Sorry Phil”).

What really got him noticed was how he managed to convince a reluctant W.A.C. Bennett to buy the government a Lear jet (hence, “Flyin’ Phil”). Premier Bennett was travelling in a newly inaugurated government-owned ferry to Prince Rupert. To demonstrate that the ferry was too slow for government business, he convinced a pilot friend to fly him to Prince Rupert in a Lear jet, thereby managing to get there before Bennett did. Gaglardi waited on the dock to greet the Premier with a purchase contract for the plane. The plane was quickly purchased.

Another explanation of Gaglardi’s nickname was his propensity for getting speeding tickets whilst driving in large American cars around the province checking on the progress of road construction.

He was forced to resign in 1968 over allegations he flew relatives in the government jet.

Subsequent to his political career, Gaglardi ran a successful hotel chain in Western Canada known as the Sandman Inns.
From Kamloops 360