Friends of Centennial Square

2026 Governors Awards

The Friends of Centennial Square have been awarded a National Trust Governors Award for their advocacy for the preservation of Victoria’s Centennial Fountain. 

The focal point of Centennial Square, in the heart of Victoria, BC, is the Centennial Fountain. The fountain consists of three monoliths decorated with Italian glass mosaics in a palette of reflective gold tiles depicting scenes and imagery representing “three fundamental elements of life”.  

The Centennial Fountain was donated to Victoria in 1962 by its three surrounding municipalities to commemorate the city’s centennial. It holds immense historical and cultural significance as a testament to Victoria’s history and the city’s progress through the past into the future.   

An $11.2 million plan for the renewal of the square was passed by Victoria City Council in 2024. The plan included the removal of the fountain, and the alteration of other historic elements.   

The Friends of Centennial Square mounted a vigorous public campaign to promote alternative solutions, including through public action and a community petition boasting 2,500 signatures. In December 2025, Victoria City Council voted to end the redevelopment project, sparing the Centennial Fountain from immediate threat.   

The National Trust Board of Governors chose to highlight this project as a striking example of the effectiveness of local advocacy, rallying the community in defense of a place with enduring value.