Pavilion to showcase Manitoba at Olympics
Last Updated: Friday, November 6, 2009 | 3:26 PM CT
CBC News
CentrePlace Manitoba will promote the province at the Vancouver Winter Olympic games in February. (Architect rendering/Manitoba government)Manitoba is planning to showcase its tourism hotspots and cultural attractions at the Vancouver Olympics and at the Paralympic Games that follow.
The province will ship a prefabricated pavilion called CentrePlace Manitoba to British Columbia in time for the 2010 games, Eric Robinson, the minister responsible for sport, announced on Friday.
CentrePlace Manitoba will feature multimedia exhibits that promote tourism, economic development, culture, trade and immigration.
'The 2010 Winter Games are a unique opportunity for Manitoba to show the world the advantages we offer in our amazing province.'—Eric Robinson
"The 2010 Winter Games are a unique opportunity for Manitoba to show the world the advantages we offer in our amazing province," said Robinson. "We will promote our trade opportunities, business and cultural industries, and welcome newcomers to help grow our province's economy and tourism activity."
Manitoba's aboriginal culture will also be highlighted as will the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. The latter exhibit will serve as a fundraiser for the museum, which is still $45 million short of its goal due to rising construction costs.
The museum, being built at Winnipeg's historic Forks — a historic gathering place for First Nations people and fur traders — is the first national museum to be built outside of Ottawa. It is scheduled to open in 2012.
CentrePlace Manitoba will be located at the Live City Vancouver downtown site, adjacent to the Four Host First Nations pavilion and the government of Canada pavilion.
Construction is scheduled to begin next month. The cost of putting on the pavilion as well as Manitoba's other Olympic activities is $6.4 million.
The province has also supported a partnership with Place de la Francophonie, which will provide a broad French language cultural experience and transform a portion of Granville Island into the French Quarter during the Olympic Games.
Torch headed to Manitoba
Manitoba's francophone art and cultural content will be featured and a special showcase will be held on the site's main stage on Manitoba Day.
"There's no question that our people and country will be the centre stage for a few electrifying weeks in Vancouver in midwinter, said Robinson.
"I know that the winters in Winnipeg are certainly something that we're all very proud of but I think it'll be equally exciting to spend a few days in Vancouver during the course of the Olympics."
Meanwhile, the Olympic flame arrives in northern Manitoba on Saturday. The national relay will pass through Thompson then head to Churchill on Sunday.
After that, the relay moves on to Nunavut and then east through the northern half of Canada before winding its way back along the southern route.
The relay will pass through Manitoba again in early January, making stops in Steinbach, Winnipeg, Winkler, Portage la Prairie, Neepawa and Brandon.
