T his is another example of the way Canadians turn government buildings bach into buildings for the people. The Vancouver Art Gallery was designed in the early 1900's by the same man responsible for Victoria's famous parliament buildings. Back then it was a provincial courthouse. In the 1970's it was transformed into a gallery housing some of the best artwork in Canada. The star attraction is a collection of paintings by Emily Carr (1871-1945). She was a grocer's daughter from Victoria who did anecdotal paintings of the world around her. In the process she provided a first-hand visual record of the time and the aboriginal inhabitants of western Canada.
The lion statues are modeled after the ones in Trafalgar Square.
The Centennial Fountain was built in 1966 to mark the 100th anniversary of the union of British Columbia and Vancouver Island.. It spews 340,000 gallons of water an hour.