Which prime minister was present when the Centennial Flame was first lit?

Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson was present when the Centennial Flame was first lit. The ceremony took place on Parliament Hill on January 1, 1967, as part of the celebrations for Canada’s centennial year.

Pearson, who was prime minister from 1963 to 1968, attended alongside former prime minister and Opposition Leader John Diefenbaker, Secretary of State Judy LaMarsh, and thousands of spectators. The flame marked the 100th anniversary of Canadian Confederation.

The monument was originally intended to be temporary, but public support led to its becoming a permanent feature of Parliament Hill. Its surrounding fountain contains the shields of Canada’s provinces and territories; Nunavut’s plaque was added in 2017 because the territory did not exist in 1967.

Despite its name, the Centennial Flame is not continuously eternal. It can be extinguished for maintenance, severe conditions, or security reasons. It originally burned natural gas and began using biogas in 2021.