mr.x Posted January 29, 2008 Report Share Posted January 29, 2008 I'm surprised the Chinese government allowed Canadian officials to put their pavilion right across the street from Tiananmen Square. Great location! $15 million B.C. Pavilion Province to pay $3 to $11 million to open B.C.-Canada Pavilion for Beijing 2008 Derrick Penner, Vancouver Sun VANCOUVER - B.C. hopes to draw four times as many guests to its pavilion at the Beijing Olympics as it did to the B.C.-Canada House log cabin at the 2006 Turin Games, Premier Gordon Campbell said Monday. The Beijing pavilion, at a total cost of $14.7 million, will be bigger than the log cabin and will be open from May to September, twice as long as the log cabin, which cost about $6 million. VANCOUVER - B.C. hopes to draw four times as many guests to its pavilion at the Beijing Olympics as it did to the B.C.-Canada House log cabin at the 2006 Turin Games, Premier Gordon Campbell said Monday. The Beijing pavilion, at a total cost of $14.7 million, will be bigger than the log cabin and will be open from May to September, twice as long as the log cabin, which cost about $6 million. Of that, B.C. is spending at least $3 million, and potentially as much as $11 million and the federal government $3 million on the B.C.-Canada pavilion, which will be located just outside Tiananmen Square, Campbell revealed. Both the provincial and federal governments are betting it will bring a big payoff for Vancouver’s position as an Olympic host with high-profile exposure at the Summer Games on the doorstep of the biggest market in the world. Campbell said he hopes to see up to 400,000 guests stream through the Beijing pavilion, compared with the 100,000 who toured Torino’s rustic log cabin. The B.C.-Canada Pavilion will be situated between the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square in Beijing. Colin Hansen, B.C.’s economic development minister, and minister responsible for the provincial Olympic secretariat said the governments would never have been able to secure such a strategic location during an Olympics if B.C. were not an Olympic jurisdiction itself. “This is basically taking an opportunity that we have, which is the Olympic brand, and using it to advance our international marketing,” Hansen said. B.C. announced in November, 2006 that it was going to open a pavilion in Beijing. Monday, Campbell picked the Council of the Federation meeting of provincial and territorial premiers to unveil some details. The pavilion will feature 13 striking wood arches at its entrance, representing the provinces and territories, and lead into a 21,000-square-foot, three-storey space Campbell characterized as “a museum of a modern province and modern country.” “The British Columbia-Canada Pavilion in Beijing will build on that profile and success [from Turin] during the 2008 Games and promote the diversity of B.C. and Canadian business, art, culture and sport to the world,” Campbell added. The pavilion will include a 200-seat stage, which will be used to feature Canadian cultural performances. The first floor will also contain interactive displays about B.C. and Canada, including so-called “spirit tree,” a hollow, fallen log from Stanley Park that visitors can explore. Upper floors will include exhibition and meeting spaces that can be used for commercial and promotional endeavours. B.C. industry groups ranging from the forest industry and green design to new media and clean-energy sectors will be represented at the pavilion, as well as community-profile efforts for Metro Vancouver, Victoria, the Sea to Sky corridor, Whistler, Kamloops and Prince George. Hansen added that all provinces have been invited to take part in pavilion events. Hansen said Tourism BC will contribute $3 million from its regular marketing budget. B.C. is in discussions with potential sponsors, including Hudson’s Bay Co., Teck Cominco, Haworth, Jade West and ASPAC Developments about potential contributions. The province has guaranteed, up to $8 million, any costs not covered by sponsorships. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chateau Petrus Posted January 29, 2008 Report Share Posted January 29, 2008 I will visit that for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thatsnotmypuppy Posted January 29, 2008 Report Share Posted January 29, 2008 Next to Tiananmen Square could be anywhere within a few blocks. Remember the square is huge... I wonder where it will be - I assuem near the South gate where there is some open land. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr.x Posted January 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted January 29, 2008 ^ it's at the Beijing Planning Exhibition Hall: http://www.bjghzl.com.cn/ You're right about the location, it's on the southeast corner of Tiananmen Square: http://maps.google.ca/maps?q=beijing&i...p;z=16&om=0 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted January 29, 2008 Report Share Posted January 29, 2008 I'm surprised the Chinese government allowed Canadian officials to put their pavilion right across the street from Tiananmen Square. Great location! Oh, u can bet Olympic connections made that happen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr.x Posted May 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 It has been built and was recently opened - BC Canada House Pavillion News clip of the new pavilion: Visit the official website: http://www.bccanadapavilion.ca/ Pictures from opening day: Exterior of the Pavilion, which is also an outdoor theatre with seating for 200 The thirteen wooden arches which tower above the entry to the Pavilion A beautiful welcome to British Columbia Canada Pavilion: a 5,000 kg jade sculpture and impressive red cedar arches "The Emperor's Sunrise": a 5,000 kg jade sculpture, mined in Northern BC and carved by Vancouver's George Pratt. This boulder is the largest piece of gem-quality jade ever mined in North America. Value: $1-million. The doors of British Columbia Canada Pavilion open to the public on May 6 Wide shot of Pavilion entry with giant maple leaf building wrap Metal is one of the five elements of Chinese philosophy used to showcase BC , highlighting our mining and mineral industries and sophisticated urban centres. Water is one of the five elements of Chinese philosophy used to tell the stories of BC inside the Pavilion. Water highlights our coastal life, history and culture, and the importance of our ports and gateway connections. Some of the first visitors to British Columbia Canada Pavilion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr.x Posted May 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 Welcome to British Columbia Canada Pavilion The bar on the second floor of the Pavilion features beautiful jade tiles, mined in Northern BC, and provided by Pavilion sponsor, Jade West. The jade bar is ready for guests The Spirit Tree, carved from an a red cedar from Vancouver's Stanley Park. The ancient tree was blown down by the huge windstorm of 2006. Embedded in the Spirit Tree are silver medallions depicting BC's unique spirit bears Visitors examine the Spirit Tree Stunning wood paneling from BC is featured outside and inside the Pavilion A Pavilion Ambassador walks visitors through the exhibit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baron-pierreIV Posted May 20, 2008 Report Share Posted May 20, 2008 Now this is something worth re-posting here. james, take note -- not the redundant posts you make about Rio which can be found on their website anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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