02/17/2023
The circular twisting form of the Canada Games cauldron symbolizes the perpetual inspiration athletes generate for their peers and future champions.
The surface texture hopes to connect the viewer with the day-to-day experiences of Canadians—experiences uniquely personal yet shared in a common understanding. Important is that each individual can see themselves reflected in the design of the cauldron, and to do that we looked for the connections that we share with and across communities, and the connections we share with the land.
The most obvious symbol associated with Canada is that of the maple leaf, but we wanted to take a more nuanced approach. With the help and guidance of , we researched flora from across the country that play important roles culturally, ecologically, symbolically or otherwise. We found an outstanding diversity of significant plants, which reflect the diversity (and diverse experiences) of Canadians. We settled on four species which together span the country: black spruce, silver birch, sweetgrass and red cedar. We hope that every Canadian can recognize one of these flora, in sight if not by name, and through that connection see themselves as an important and recognized contributor to the fabric of Canada.
Do you see a plant species here that is familiar to you, what memory do you associate with silver birch, red cedar, black spruce, and or sweet grass.
