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Canada

207 bytes added, 02:09, 13 February 2016
/* History */
==History==
While the Canada pavilion eventually opened as one of World Showcase’s opening day pavilions, the pavilion that finally opened was drastically different from the one that had originally been designed. Disney had initially approached the Canadian government about sponsoring a Canada pavilion for World Showcase, however when the government refused (due to fears that stereotypes such as lumberjacks would be used) Disney decided to create the pavilion without a sponsor. This lack of sponsorship gave Imagineers the freedom to create the pavilion from an outsider’s perspective<ref name= "Martin"> http://www.martinsvids.net/?s=Canada </ref>.
Original plans for the Canada pavilion called the pavilion to be divided into two halves, French Canada and English Canada<ref name= "Martin"/>. The barrier between the two would have been the pavilions main street, where restaurants and shops would be located. When designing this version of Canada however, Imagineers faced a problem. Due to the similarities between the two cultures it became hard to differentiate the Canada pavilion from America. To solve this issue, Imagineers decided to base the pavilion on Canada’s wilderness, focusing specifically on the eastern seaboard.
When construction began on the Canada pavilion, Imagineers wanted to use artificial trees to further immerse guests into the Canadian wilderness<ref name= "trees"> http://progresscityusa.com/2011/02/01/the-lost-forests-of-epcot-center/ </ref>. When the trees were installed however, it became clear that they would disrupt the forced perspective used by the rest of the pavilion’s structures. Eventually, Dick Nunis (the pavilion’s project manager) called for the trees to be removed, and the idea was scrapped<ref name= "trees"/>. A treeless Canada pavilion opened with the rest of EPCOT Center on October 1, 1982.
Since opening day the Canada pavilion has seen a few changes. The first real change to hit the pavilion came in 1997 when the pavilion’s table service restaurant “Le Cellier” had its menu updated. At this time, the establishment was renamed Le Cellier Steakhouse. Subsequently, in 2005 La Boutique des Provinces, a shop located above Le Cellier Steakhouse closed to guests (the store had opened within the pavilion in 1986). Perhaps the most significant change to the Canada pavilion came in 2007, when the pavilion’s only attraction [[O' Canada]] closed for renovations. During the closure, the attractions film was updated and given a new narration by comedian Martin Short. O’ Canada’s theme song "Canada (You're a Lifetime Journey)" was also rerecorded by Eva Avila at this time. The updated version of O’ Canada opened to guests on August 31, 2007.