Great Divide

Although he’s most celebrated for the Great Divide Waterfall, he is also known for other waterfall projects including Splash at the 2011 Lumiere Festival in Durham, UK, and Running Water, two temporary water features in Olympic Park for the 2012 London Olympics. In 1981, he instigated, as a “wedding gift” to Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, 1,200 bonfires from Scotland to the Channel Islands. Architectural projects have included work for Clive Piercy and Cowichan Tribes in British Colombia. At his home in Vancover Island, Peter has built the Bright Angel Garden, a 10-acre water garden that includes a 2-acre lake, 14 fountains and the largest prayer wheel in North America.

A waterfall in the middle of the prairies is not an obvious piece of public art but it has become a familiar and loved landmark for the city of Edmonton. It was created by artist Peter Lewis and was unveiled in 1980 as a gift for the Province of Alberta’s 75th anniversary. In an Edmonton Journal article, Lewis’ waterfall is described as “… ambitious to be sure. And crazy in a way. And completely marvelous.” At 64 metres high, The Great Divide is more than seven metres higher than Niagara Falls, pumping 50 000 litres of water per minute. It became a focal point for summer long weekends running Victoria Day, Canada Day, Heritage Day and Labour Day.