For today’s posts on my visit to different houses, pavilions and exhibits of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games, LiveCity Downtown, where the Canada Pavilion is located. I must mention there is some controversy behind the Canada Pavilion, specifically, the costs to build it was CDN $10 million and the end result is… Well, keep on reading this post!
But, before that, here is once again, all my other posts this topic:
- Alberta House
- Robson Street
- Maison du Québec
- Saskatchewan Pavilion
- Saxony House
- Northern House
(Once again, click on the picture to open a larger version of it in a new window).
One of the major issues in this pavilion was long lines. It took me ~20 minutes from queueing up and go past the security check. If it wasn’t because of my experience with airport security checks, I might have taken an additional couple of minutes while I empty my pockets and make sure there wasn’t anything metallic hanging around. >_<
One oddity was that the Manitoba pavilion. Prior to my visit to LiveCity Downtown, I couldn’t find their pavilion/house. I guess this explains it. While not as fancy as the other ones (the only one pending right now to visit Ontario and Atlantic Canada), it was quite entertaining in its own ways. They had some music shows and dances in front of the house on the day I was there. Sorry, no pictures of that, as I was checking the rest of the venues and, by the time I was done, the dances were done as well.
Did I mention queues? Yes, this is the line for the Canada Pavilion. It took me ~40 minutes from queueing up to be able to walk in! OK, at this point, I thought that is something should be expecting, given all the visitors in Vancouver.
In that note, here is the LiveCity area, where you have lots of TVs (including a giant screen), stage and some food in the back. I did not stay there for the food, as I thought it was too generic and expensive. Instead, I went later to Saskatchewan Pavilion and end up having a bison burger. >_<
Anyway, here is what you will find in the Canada Pavilion…
Evolution of hockey gear.
Some interactive games. In this case, ski jump. Yup, that was my score! 
I guess some might be interested in dressing their characters…
More interactive games, in this case, shooting pucks.
Or snowboarding.
And, a Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games torch on display. There was also one where you could actually hold it so you can take pictures with it.
Overall, I must say I am disappointed with what was displayed. Now, the pavilion is interesting; however, for a “Canada Pavilion”, I thought it would try to showcase what means to be Canadian. OK, that is extremely difficult to explain and understand but, it is the fact it is called “Canada Pavilion”. Had it been called “Winter Sports Pavilion”, it would had been fitting. But it is not… 
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