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One of the most prominent and popular leftovers of the 2010 Winter Games is the striking Olympic cauldron. Positioned beside and on top of the Vancouver Convention Centre, with the North Shore Mountains providing a majestic backdrop to the scene, international eyes were focused on the 10-metre-tall glass and steel monument when it was lit by hockey legend Wayne Gretzky during the Opening Ceremonies.
The cauldron, provided by FortisBC through a legacy investment and partnership with the Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committees, stands at the centre of the former Thurlow Plaza. The downtown public space was renamed Jack Poole Plaza to honour the memory and contributions of the head of the VANOC bid committee, who was responsible for bringing the Games to Vancouver. Jack Poole passed away from cancer on October 23, 2009, just hours after the Olympic Flame was lit at the beginning of the 2010 torch relay in Greece.
Shortly after the Olympics, the cauldron site was closed to the public to accommodate work that would make the landmark a permanent fixture. The grey pavers that had been installed at the foot of the four icicle-like canted structures were removed and replaced with a reflective pool and fountain. Reopened in June 2010, the cauldron is now operated and maintained by the BC Pavilion Corporation.
Although the cauldron is only lit for special events — a $5,000 contribution will grant you up to four hours of fire — the unique sculpture has become a defining piece of public art for the city, and an enduring living memory of the elation that gripped Vancouver in 2010.
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