Centennial Square was erected to honour the City of Victoria and to commemorate the first century of its existence. On August 2, 1862, at the time of the City’s founding, the  remnants of the Hudson’s Bay fort still existed within the City. Cormorant Street, between Government and Douglas, where the Fountain sits today was a dirt road with residences on either side. One hundred years later, after a century of progress, Centennial Square was created to commemorate the efforts of the citizens; a place to meet, socialize and reflect on the past while looking to the future. 

     The focal point of the Square is the Centennial Fountain, The fountain consists of three monoliths measuring 20 feet (6.1 metres), 23 feet (7 metres) and 28 feet (8.5 metres) in height. The monoliths are decorated with Italian glass mosaics in a palette of reflective gold tiles depicting scenes and imagery representing “three fundamental elements of life”. The smallest of the panels symbolically faces Oak Bay and depicts “youth” and the “experience of physical life capped by the shield of knowledge”, represented by the University of Victoria crest (The University of Victoria had just attained the status of a University in 1963). The second monolith faces Esquimalt and depicts themes of procreation and representations of womanhood. The tallest monolith faces Saanich and depicts the legend of St. George & the dragon, symbolizing humankind’s struggle against evil. The fountain was meant to be the unifying symbol of the square.