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Published: January 18th 2010
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Canada's Northern House
Grand Opening on Friday, January 15, 2010. First pavilion to open! Travelling Canucks enjoyed our visit! It was 35 years ago that Papa Canuck worked in a placer mine outside of Dawson City in the Yukon. He cherishes the memories of traveling the Alaska Highway to the Yukon with his family, when windshields and tires were routinely replaced along the route. Sadly, Mama Canuck has never travelled to Canada's North; perhaps, we will travel North one day before economic growth and the effects of climate change, change the North irreversibly. The Travelling Canucks do share wonderful memories of visiting the Northwest Territories and Yukon Pavilions at EXPO 86, so we were excited to learn that Canada's Northern Territories would be hosting the world during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Games.
Every Canadian province and the federal government will stage pavilions during the Games to promote tourism and business opportunities, but Canada's Northern House is the first to open its doors. Currently open from 10am to 5pm, the pavilion will open from 10am to 9pm over the Winter Games. Unfortunately, we were unable to attend the opening day on Friday, January 15th since we were working at our office jobs, just blocks away. Instead, we headed down to the pavilion on Saturday, January 16th to check it out!
Fortunately, the crowds were light. If you get a chance to visit the pavilion before 10,000 media personnel arrive in Vancouver on January 29th, you will enjoy the pavilion without Olympic-sized crowds!
Canada's Northern House
Canada's Northern House represents the three Northern Territories: Nunavut, Northwest Territories, and Yukon. Since Aboriginal culture defines the Northern way of life, Northern art, cultural performances, exhibits about the region's culture and way of life are prominently featured. There are also displays featuring Northern industries and investment opportunities.
As you enter Canada's Northern House, there is an Inuksuit, a traditional Inuit directional marker that also symbolizes hope and friendship. As you enter the exhibit called 'The North Today', you will notice multimedia and interactive exhibits. Like other government pavilions, Northern governments are interested in promoting their region as a place to invest in their natural resource-based industries, such as mining, oil and gas, and hydroelectricity.
We had a blast making our video postcard and video adventure in the Great White North! After we selected our backgrounds and video sequences, it was our turn to be wild and crazy Canucks. While recording in the video postcard booth, visitors can watch your production on
Big Friendly Polar Bear
Sorry Papa Canuck, your new teddy bear is too big to take home! a flat screen TV. Once the video clip is captured, you enter your email address so you can access the clip via an email link. Emails can be sent to share your Northern adventure with three friends. It's fun to participate and watch!!
Other Highlights:
• Arctic animal displays: Caribou, Polar Bear, Wolf and Muskox.
• Northern artworks, including soapstone sculptures and painting.
• Traditional northern clothing and handicrafts.
• Hands-on displays about the Northwest Territories' diamond industry.
• Gift shop selling lovely handmade clothing, accessories, and jewellery.
• Aboriginal performances on centre stage from February 12th to 28th, including the Artcirq circus group, throat singers, drum dancers, and traditional games athletes.
Visitors are welcome to trade pins and enter a contest to win a half-karat diamond cut and polished in the region, as well as a gold nugget from the Yukon.
Located at 602 West Hastings Street on the corner of Seymour Street, Canada's Northern House is close to Waterfront Station and Birks. We hope that visitors will make the trip to visit this welcoming pavilion, even though, it is as isolated from the main pavilion sites as the Northern Territories are isolated from Southern Canada.
Check the website:Canada's North and Facebook Canada's Northern House
Located at 602 West Hastings Street at the corner of Seymour Street, just one block from Waterfront Station. Group
Canada's North for interesting links and events planned. Mama Canuck was thrilled to find out that the Northern performers will also be heading to Grouse Mountain for some winter sport demonstrations.
The Travelling Canucks enjoyed visiting Canada's Northern House so we highly recommend a visit! You can count on us to visit the pavilion during the Games to enjoy the cultural performances, trade a pin or two, record a video adventure, and view the Yukon exhibit, which has yet to open. You never know, you might just see us there!
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Joanne
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Your blog is amazing, it really shows how great Vancouver is : ) Keep up the awesome work!