"The new plaza and original granite fountain will serve as a meeting point in the Flats for generations to come."

At the official unveiling of the Lilias W. Fleck Fountain with (L to R) Mark Seaman, Dr. Mark Krsitmanson, Brian Ahearn and Mary Ahearn.

Today, I joined Brian Ahearn, Mark Seaman and Mark Kristmanson of the National Capital Commission in unveiling the Lilias W. Fleck Fountain as part of the official opening of the new LeBreton Flats West Plaza. I’d like to thank Brian Ahearn and Mary Ahearn for attending on behalf of the Fleck and Ahearn families.

The new plaza and original granite fountain will serve as a meeting point in the Flats for generations to come. The fountain is a great connection for the prominent Fleck and Ahearn families in Ottawa who were leading industrialists at the time.

Thomas Ahearn earned the nickname “Edison of Canada” by helping to bring electric streetcars, streetlamps to Ottawa and is recognised as the inventor of the electric oven in 1892 and driving the first automobile in Ottawa in 1899. He also went on to become the first chairman of the Federal District Commission, which would go on to become the NCC.His son, Frank Ahearn, was a Member of Parliament and an owner of the original Ottawa Senators team that won 3 Stanley Cup championships in the 1920’s.