Canada

Initial Design and Changes

While the Canada pavilion opened with the rest of World Showcase on October 1, 1982, the pavilion that opened was drastically different from the one that had originally been designed. Disney had originally approached the Candadian government about sponsoring a Canada pavilion for World Showcase. When the government refused (due to fears that sterotypes such as lumberjacks would be used), Disney decided to create the pavilion without a sponsor. The pavilion’s lack of sponsor Imagineers were free to create the pavilion from an outsider’s perspective. Original plans for the Canada pavilion called the pavilion to be divided into two halves, French Canada and English Canada. The barrier between the two would have been the pavilions main street, where restaurants and shops would be located. When designing the pavilion, Imagineers faced a problem. It was hard for them to differentiate the Canada pavilion, from America. To solve this problem, Imagineers decided to base the pavilion on Canada’s wilderness, focusing on the eastern seaboard.

When construction began on the Canada pavilion, Imagineers wanted to use artificial trees, to further immerse guests in the Canadian wilderness. However, when the trees were installed, it became clear that they would disrupt the forced perspective used by the rest of the structures in the pavilion. Eventually, Dick Nunis the pavilion’s project manager called for the trees to be removed, and the idea was scrapped. With the rest of the pavilion’s construction moving on schedule, the Canada Pavilion was ready for Epcot’s opening day, October 1, 1982.

Pavilion Layout and History Since Opening Day

When the Canada pavilion originally opened, it featured three shops (La Boutique des Provinces, Northwest Mecantile, The Wood Cart), one restaurant (Le Cellier ), and the CircleVision 360 film, O’ Canada. The focal point of the Canada pavilion is the Hotel du Canada. This structure was based on the Chateau Laurier in Ottawa. While nothing is currently inside the structure, the La Boutique des Provinces store was located there from 1986 until 2005. Beneath the Hotel du Canada, guests can dine at Le Cellier Steakhouse. The steakhouse was a buffet style restaurant known simply, Le Cellier. In 1997 both the menu and the name changed, to Le Cellier Steakhouse.

The Canada pavilion is also home to Victoria Gardens. This lush terrace was based off of the Butchat Gardens in British Columbia. Here guests can take a leisurely stroll while observing some of Canada’s native flowers. In the pavilion, guests can also brave a Canadian canyon and head to the observation deck. Here, the pavilion’s waterfall can be found. The waterfall is usually powerful enough to spray guests with a cool mist, however during the winter season its pressure is turned down. Nearby, guests can enter the Maple Leaf Mine (formally known as Moosehead Mine) and watch the pavilion’s attraction O’ Canada. The CircleVision 360 film gives guests a tour of Canada, showing many of its unique landscapes and modern cities.

In 2007, new scenes for the O’ Canada attraction were filmed. In the new version of the film, about half of the footage is from the original movie, while half is new footage. The new version of O’ Canada is hosted by Canadian comedian Martin Short, and the film’s theme song, Canada (You're a Lifetime Journey) is now sung by Eva Avila. The new version of O’Canada opened on August 31, 2007.

Fun Facts and Trivia

Orinal ideas included a larger canyon with projected vies of Salmon Island, Quebec, Victoria Gardens, and the Northwest Coast.

Canada and Mexico were placed in their respective places because they border America. Thus, no matter which way you enter WS, you go through one of America’s neighbors.

The traditional homes found the pavilion were originally going to house the Canadian Tourism Information Center, but this never came to pass.

If guests look closely at the picket fence along the pavilions promenade; they will notice that every other post has a Maple leave carved into it.

A band known as the Caledonian Bagpipe Band originally played in both the Canada and Uk pavilion. They were replaced by Off Kilter in 1997.

The totem poles that are located in the pavilion were originally made of fiberglass. In 1998, artist David Baxley carved a real totem pole which replaced the pole located across from the shops.

Although the Hotel du Canada looks 7 stories tall, it's actually only 3.