«Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.» Jane Jacobs
Designed and developed in collaboration with the Cirque du Soleil, the Canadian Pavillion had to meet the requirements for success at a universal exposition, that is to receive a high input of visitors while leaving a lasting impression in a short period of time. Mission accomplished! Receiving between 29 000 and 32 000 visitors a day, this thrilling, festive and colorful 20-minute voyage involves a succession of theatrical sketches, leading visitors towards the discovery of the urban faces of our vast country.
Upon their arrival, visitors enter the Founding Memories room, where the country and its values are engraved on sinuous walls guiding them towards another universe, the Crossroads of the Imagination. Here, they discover the creative city through an interactive water basin that serves as a projection screen for the city as imagined by Canadian children. The inclusive nature of the city is then revealed by an installation of piled blocs on which the many components shaping the unique personality of our cities is projected. Finally, by mounting bikes linked to a series of curved screens, visitors discover, at their own pace, Canadian achievements and innovations in the field of sustainable development. The journey ends in the Impressions room, where the rural landscapes and urban realities that shape the nation’s identity are seen side-by-side on one panoramic screen.