More than two months after vandals snuffed out the Flame of Hope at Banting House, the monument has been restored.
The museum dedicated to Sir Frederick Banting, the man who discovered insulin, announced Wednesday the flame had been re-ignited.
"As people were driving by when we were working on it people were honking," said Museum Curator Grant Maltman. "As soon as it was lit, windows opened and people were yelling and saying it was good to see it up. Our emails and social media platforms are full of comments."
The monument's igniter was damaged in June when vandals tossed small metal objects into the bowl of the flame, which sits 12 feet off the ground. In the lead up to the act of vandalism that doused the flame, Maltman had noticed an increase of charred debris laying around, indicating people had repeatedly been trying to toss items into the flame after-hours at the museum.
The vandalism caused outrage in the community and sparked a fundraising campaign to repair the damaged igniter and purchase security lighting and cameras to deter future mischief.
"It was a true negative that became an extremely positive event, not only for us at Diabetes Canada, but for the global diabetes community," said Maltman. "We actually surpassed our $20,000 fundraising goal. We are quite happy with the response, not only from Londoners and Canadians but also people in the U.S. and the United Kingdom who rally to the cause."
Security cameras and lighting will be installed around the museum in the coming weeks. Infrastructure improvements will be made to better protect the flame, which had steadily burned since being it by the Queen Mother in July 1989.
The Flame of Hope is considered an international symbol of hope that a cure for diabetes will be found. People from more than 80 countries travel to the museum, the former home of Banting, each year. The site on Adelaide Street, near Queens Avenue, is where Banting thought of the idea that led to the discovery of insulin.
While Wednesday's re-lighting was done with little fanfare, Maltman hopes to make a bigger show of it later this year.
"What we thought we would do is have a more formal ceremony this coming November 14, which is World Diabetes Day and happens to be Sir Frederick's birthday," said Maltman. "We are hoping to have an outdoor event where we can rally all of the community members who supported us and kick off our 100th anniversary celebrations."
Banting House is owned and operated by the Canadian Diabetes Association.
...and we're back! Thanks to the Carl, Kyle, & Jim from @AinsworthInc for working in the rain to #RekindleTheFlame.
#100thanniversary #BantingHouse #thisplacematters #Banting #birthplaceofinsulin #diabetes #T1D #T2D #insulin #ldnont #ldnmuse #DiscoverOurStory #EndDiabetes pic.twitter.com/kz3WabONp5— Banting House NHSC (@BantingHouse) August 26, 2020
