Centennial Flame facts for kids
| Flamme du centenaire | |
Centennial Flame on Parliament Hill
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| Location | Ottawa, Ontario, Canada |
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| Type | Fountain |
| Opening date | January 1, 1967 |
| Dedicated to | 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation |
The Centennial Flame (which means "Flame of the Centennial" in French) is a special monument on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was lit on January 1, 1967, to celebrate Canada's 100th birthday as a country. This big celebration is known as the 100th anniversary of Confederation. Many people, including the Prime Minister at the time, Lester B. Pearson, watched it light up.
Canada's Birthday Flame
The Centennial Flame was first planned to be a temporary monument. But people loved it so much that it still stands today! It is located near the Queen's Gates on Parliament Hill. This is right in front of the stairs that lead to the famous Peace Tower and Centre Block. The Centre Block is a very important building. It is where the House of Commons and the Senate meet. These are the two main parts of Canada's Parliament.
The Flame is a fountain with a fire burning in the middle. It is powered by natural gas. Around the fountain, you can see the shields of all of Canada's 13 provinces and territories. When the Flame was first lit, Nunavut was not yet a territory. Its shield was added later, in 2017.
Coins for a Cause
Many visitors to Parliament Hill throw coins into the Centennial Flame's fountain for good luck. These coins are not wasted! Maintenance staff collect, clean, and sort them. The money then goes into a special government bank account.
The Research Award
The money collected from the fountain is used to fund the Centennial Flame Research Award. This award started in 2005. It helps people with disabilities do research. They study how Canadians with disabilities have helped public life or Parliament. For example, a student named Andrew St. Kitts received money to research how able-bodied Canadians view people with disabilities.
A Flame That Never Freezes?
Because of the fire burning above the water, the fountain never freezes. This is true even in the coldest parts of winter!
However, the Centennial Flame is sometimes confused with an eternal flame. An eternal flame burns forever. But the Centennial Flame does not burn eternally. It can be put out for bad weather or for maintenance. For example, in 2002, during a protest, Prime Minister Jean Chrétien had the flame put out. The monument was covered to protect it from any damage.
