Pillar roses are climbers. Unfortunately in our climate Fern, they aren't hardy enough to get that tall or survive in our climate. I have a few climbers, but they are more like large bushes that need to be tied up because their branches get quite leggy. For climbers, I have:
John Cabot- my 17 yr old bush is too big for an obelisk
John Davies- I have in an Obelisk
Quadra
Prairie Princess
Henry Kelsey
William Booth
America
Rosarium Uetersen
My Quadra, Prairie Princess, and Henry Kelsey would look nice in an Obelisk. The obelisk would have to be at least 5' tall though or more. Other Canadian roses that would be good in an obelisk are Adelaide Hoodless, Morden Ruby, and Marie Victorin. The branches are quite leggy and this would help support them.
Shelley

Thanks Shelly

I've been thinking of Quadra and on the weekend I saw Morden Ruby which was really a nice looking plant. When you plant the rose to you put the obelisk over it immediately and then the rose just continuously grows up inside of it and pokes branches out? - I really am kind of dumb about roses - what does Prairie Princess look like?
I really like the fuller looking roses that don't open completely to show the centre. You have been one of the people leading me down the "rose garden path" making me fall in love with many of the pictures on the gallery - specifically Lambert Closse, Quadra, J.P. Connell and Winnepeg parks. A friend says that her brother grows Persian yellow in Calgary but I'm afraid it would get too large for my little yard.

Thanks for all your information

Fern

Fern, before major growth in the spring, put the obelisk over top of the bush. You will have to train it to stay inside or tie it up to the outside. Simple.
Prairie Princess has a nice flower, but it does blow open. Last year it was new and I wasn't to crazy about it, but this year it is doing wonderfully.

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The roses that you mentioned are some of my favorites. Although Morden Ruby has quite a bit of blackspot for me this year.
Shelley