Toronto welcomed Princess Margaret in the summer of 1958. Today we celebrate the Princess Margaret Fountain. It stands here at Exhibition Place.
The Princess Margaret Fountain is a beautiful centerpiece. It is located at Princes’ Boulevard and Manitoba Drive. The fountain wasn’t always here. An older fountain stood here in 1911. George H. Gooderham gifted it to the Canadian National Exhibition. It was a replica of one in St. Peter’s Square in Rome. That fountain was replaced by the present one in 1958.
Princess Margaret Fountain stands about 3.6 meters tall. That is about 12 feet. Design Craft Limited of Toronto designed it. It features two levels. Water sprays onto the top crown. It then spills down to a larger circular dish. From there, water spills into a large pool. The lower base is illuminated at night. A flower garden surrounds the fountain.
Princess Margaret agreed to have the fountain named after her in July 1958. On July 31, 1958, she visited Toronto. She pressed a button to ceremonially turn on the fountain. The fountain cost about $300,000 at the time. That equals about $3,100,658 in 2023.
The fountain is made of concrete and steel. It has terrazzo-covered steel supports under each tier. Water flows gracefully. It cascades from the top basin. It goes to the larger lower basin. Finally it falls into the pool below.
Princess Margaret’s visit was quite an event. Over 500,000 people lined Toronto’s streets. They watched the motorcade. The Princess made stops. She visited Old City Hall. She had lunch at the Royal York Hotel. The Premier of Ontario announced a new cancer research center. It was named after her.
At the Exhibition Grounds, thousands waited. They wanted to see the Princess. Rockets soared when Princess Margaret pressed the button. Flags of the Commonwealth nations were released. The Princess Margaret Fountain became the Exhibition’s new centrepiece.
Princess Margaret Rose Windsor was Queen Elizabeth II’s younger sister. She was the 9th Royal to visit Canada. The Princess Margaret Hospital was founded in 1952. It was renamed in her honour during her visit.
In 1959, someone played a prank. They turned the fountain into a mound of bubbles. These bubbles made their way over to The Bandshell. The city gave the Princess Margaret Fountain heritage status in 1993.
The Princess Margaret Fountain stands as a symbol of beauty. It also marks a special moment in Toronto’s history. It reminds us of Princess Margaret’s visit. It celebrates innovation in design. It honors the city’s connection to the Commonwealth. Take a moment. Enjoy the fountain’s elegance and history.