Comments on: Wanted! Home for Centennial Fountain Sculpture

By: Chris Savery

Chris Savery — Thu, 18 Sep 2025 15:40:27 +0000

As the grandson of RH Savery I’d like to see it in Stanley Park or any park, or even just out in the woods as a hiking destination. No water needed, no repairs for that needed. Put it somewhere people may stumble upon and enjoy. Cheers.

By: Lisa Ogden

Lisa Ogden — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 17:01:07 +0000

Anyone know the recent status? Robert Savery was married to my grandma who died in 2012. He was a lovely man very gentle and kind.

By: Sujay Infra

Sujay Infra — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 12:44:11 +0000

It’s fascinating to think about where this historic black marble will end up—hopefully, it finds a new home that honors its legacy!

Given its connection to Vancouver’s Centennial Fountain, perhaps it could be repurposed into a new public art installation or monument!

By: Gary Sim

Gary Sim — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 18:10:06 +0000

A few weeks ago I was actually wondering what happened to this sculpture. I hope it finds a good home. The City has a poor record of maintaining sculptures that have water, such as the King George “fountain” at the VAG for which they pledged water “in perpetuity.” I see they did restore a drinking water tap to the Joe Fortes Memorial, yay!

By: John Hughes

John Hughes — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 18:24:36 +0000

Agree with others that Stanley Park would be a great site for the central sculpture. Something to come across in the woods- a titch mysterious — and ponder. Frankly, I think it’s a great shame, that Vancouver can’t have a fountain in its former location, where the sound of water creates respite from urban hurly burly. I think this admittedly quite odd monument is a sad story, it could have endured as a quirky pleasant space and I think was preferable to bleakness that replaced it.

By: Deborah

Deborah — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 00:40:08 +0000

I agree with the comments about putting the sculpture in a park, even if it’s non-functional as a fountain! It would look beautiful in Stanley Park or in the Van Dusen Gardens. Thanks for this article about it needing a home!

By: Nancy

Nancy — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 03:50:53 +0000

The name Alex Von Svoboda brought back memories for me. I grew up just around the the corner from where he lived in Don Mills (a suburb of Toronto). I agree that van Dusen Gardens might make a good site for the resurrected sculpture if funds can be found to re-locate it.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 17:42:13 +0000

I’m thinking, it doesn’t even have to be restored as a “fountain” but simply as a “sculpture.” Get rid of the “lip” that makes the mosaic into a basin that holds water and simply have it a sculpture with a mosaic surround. If the lip were left in place, especially if the sculpture were placed in the outdoors/park/the bush, it would fill up with debris and rainwater, but leaving it flat (or better yet slightly sloped, from the center outward) at least it wouldn’t fill up with water that would turn stagnant. There’s got to be a way to save this beautiful piece of art! PS I recall a couple Len Norris cartoons about it – one of a guy taking a bath in the fountain snapping “Who’s loitering?” at the cop who is obviously telling him move along. The other cartoon I recall was of an accident where a car hits a fire hydrant and there’s some comment about the resultant geyser being suggested as the new Centennial Fountain!

By: Brad King

Brad King — Sun, 19 Jan 2025 14:36:17 +0000

I always felt that the Centennial Fountain should be reinstalled at Devonian Harbour Park (corner of Georgia and Denman).

By: e.a.f.

e.a.f. — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 21:23:00 +0000

Remember the carving. I’d love to have it in my front yard. The water would be nice but it looks great without it also. If not my front yard, some place in a park would be great. Stanley Park–well there certainly is room now that there is a lack of trees. Van Dusen Gardens would work. Some where at UBC or Pacific Spirit Park. Would they consider moving it to Nanaimo? It would look great here and I could see it.
It ought not to be hidden in storage. Out in the sun shine please.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 20:53:00 +0000

It’s too bad that the word ‘colonial’ has been attached to it. It’s negative and suggests it is unworthy of saving, and only a nostalgic trinket from Vancouver’s recent past and a foolish thing to honour.

By: Sharon

Sharon — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 20:20:31 +0000

I would love that sculpture in my yard! I think the idea if it going into a wooded park, Stanley Park or up Grouse would be lovely.

I found the statement that ‘government employees are incompetent in these fields of art’ appalling! Having seen some monstrosities of so called ‘art’ in Vancouver by ‘real artists’ I would chose the ‘incompetent government employee’s’ incompetant suggestions!

By: Cheryl Pyper

Cheryl Pyper — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 19:53:11 +0000

I’m with Lisa Smith above. Cart it off to some wooded area (somehow the Egyptians did it, why can we :), create some “lore” buzz around it and it will become a destination hike for locals and tourists alike. Look at the Whistler Train Wreck hike for inspiration. It’s art – it would be a shame for it to be destroyed. Ask Chip Wilson and his wife – I believe they saved the laughing statues in the West End.

By: Jennifer Clay

Jennifer Clay — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 16:31:35 +0000

Great article! I feel like van Dusen gardens could put them somewhere, broken or not. Or a carver could cut them into pieces? I hope it doesn’t go to landfill!

By: Lisa Smith

Lisa Smith — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 16:26:27 +0000

So how about “sticking it in a forest on its own,” like in Stanley Park, for instance??? Hopefully something can be done to save this beautiful work which I remember so well.

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 15:57:34 +0000

It is too expensive to fix, keep and haul! Best to break it down. Vancouver is not a place that appreciates any form of rock Art and the way things are going in Vancouver these rocks would be vandalized . Make coasters out of the marble or rocks for someone garden .
Sell them at Garden works . Not saying this in an insulting way hit fact about Vancouverites!