Centennial Flame
Monument in Ottawa, Canada
title: "Centennial Flame" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["centennial-anniversaries", "eternal-flames", "monuments-and-memorials-in-ottawa", "tourist-attractions-in-ottawa", "1967-establishments-in-ontario", "parliament-of-canada-buildings"] description: "Monument in Ottawa, Canada" topic_path: "geography/canada" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centennial_Flame" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Monument in Ottawa, Canada ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox monument"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Centennial Flame |
| native_name | Flamme du centenaire |
| image | Centennial Flame, Ottawa.jpg |
| caption | Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill |
| location | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
| type | Fountain |
| open | 1 January 1967 |
| dedicated_to | 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation |
| mapframe | yes |
| mapframe-zoom | 16 |
| mapframe-caption | Map of the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill |
| mapframe-id | Q1053543 |
| mapframe-marker | monument |
| :: |
| name = Centennial Flame | native_name = Flamme du centenaire | image = Centennial Flame, Ottawa.jpg | caption = Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill | location = Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | designer = | type = Fountain | material = | length = | width = | height = | begin = | complete = | open = 1 January 1967 | restore = | dismantled = | dedicated_to = 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 16 | mapframe-caption = Map of the Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill | mapframe-id = Q1053543 | mapframe-marker = monument | relief = | website = | extra = The Centennial Flame () is a monument on Parliament Hill commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. First lit in January 1967, the Flame worked with natural gas and, as of 2021, uses biogas. This ensures the fountain does not freeze in winter. Money thrown into it is a donation for people with disabilities, some of whom have received over $5,000.
History
The Centennial Flame was first lit as the climax of the centennial celebrations of 1 January 1967 for the Canadian Confederation, in the presence of Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. He was joined on the hill by John Diefenbaker (leader of the Opposition and former prime minister) and Secretary of State Judy LaMarsh, as well as thousands of onlookers. On 13 December 2017, a Nunavut plaque was unveiled.
This Flame was erected as a temporary monument, but due to great public support was made permanent. It is near the Queen's Gates and in front of the stairs leading to the Peace Tower and Centre Block. The Centennial was celebrated across Canada in various ways, including a re-enactment of the Battle of the Thames and a building of a destroyer out of match sticks. The government also encouraged the building of a Centennial memorial in each of the 10 provinces. The provincial and federal governments matched whatever the municipal government spent on their memorial, thereby encouraging the construction of grand buildings such as the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
In 2021 the flame began burning carbon-neutral biogas.
Design
The monument is encompassed by a fountain into which many visitors to Parliament Hill throw coins for luck. The award, which was begun in 2005, is given "to a person with a disability to enable him or her to conduct research and prepare a report on the contributions of one or more Canadians with disabilities to the public life of Canada or the activities of Parliament." The 2012 recipient, Andrew St. Kitts, was a Masters student with cerebral palsy who planned on using the $5,000 he received to research "attitudes of able-bodied Canadians when they see people like him."
Because of the fire that burns above the water, the fountain does not freeze, even in the middle of the winter.
The flame is often confused for an eternal flame; however, it does not burn eternally. It may sometimes be extinguished due to bad weather or for maintenance purposes. In 2002, for example, during the G8 protest, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien decided to have the flame extinguished and the monument covered to avoid damage. It was covered by a welded steel lid attached to concrete.
References
Sources
References
- (16 January 2012). "Centennial Flame Change". CTV National News.
- (13 December 2017). "Centennial Flame monument updated to include Nunavut, 18 years after territory created". CBC News.
- Naylor, Dave. (21 April 2022). "Centennial flame goes carbon-neutral". Western Standard News.
- (2005). "News Release: Centennial Flame Research Award for Persons with Disabilities". Subcommittee on the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
- (2011). "News Release: 2011 Centennial Flame Research Award". Subcommittee on the Status of Persons with Disabilities.
- (2 December 2012). "Where do coins tossed into the Centennial Flame go?". theweathernetwork.com.
- (2 November 1967). "$3,237 From Fountain". Ottawa Citizen.
- (25 June 2002). "Centennial Flame snuffed for fear of summit vandals". National Post.
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