Centennial Flame

The Centennial Flame is a fountain with a symbolic flame located in front of the Peace Tower, in Ottawa, Canada. The flame was lit by Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson the evening before January 1, 1967 to officially kick off the Canadian Centennial celebrations.

The flame was placed in the middle of the walkway that runs from the gates of Parliament Hill on Wellington Street to the main doors of the Centre Block of the parliament buildings. The natural gas that feeds the flame bubbles up around a metal dome depicting the centennial year logo (a stylized maple leaf) and the water runs under the coat of arms for each of the 1967 provinces and territories of Canada. The water runs into a moat surrounded by a stone enclosure listing the year each province and territory joined confederation.

Above all, the Centennial Flame is a monument to Canadian unity and cooperation The use of a combination of fire and water represents the harmony between French and English Canada, with both communities coexisting happily alongside each other, despite any differences or distant history of acrimony, in all of the provinces and territories.

As with many fountains, many visitors toss coins into the fountain for good luck.

Contrary to popular belief, the Centennial Flame is not an eternal flame, as it is routinely extinguished and relit, for example in inclement weather.