Our Brand and History

Our Brand Essence:

Inspirationally Canadian

Our Brand Promise:

Canada Place will evoke pride in being Canadian and appreciation of Canada through a unique and memorable experience.

Our Brand Position:

Canada Place is Vancouver's national symbol, a hub of economic activity and a destination that welcomes Canadians and visitors from around the world to celebrate our country.

Background:

On July 1, 2006, Canada Place launched its new Inspirationally Canadian brand. Since that time, Canadians and visitors alike have embraced the brand and its promise, which is embedded in all that we do at Canada Place.

Our award winning brand, much like our nation, is multi-faceted. First, the sails depict the iconic nature of Canada Place’s architecture. The kaleidoscope of colors represents variety and diversity living as one and our vast Canadian landscape, both human and geographical. The blues of the ocean, the greens of the mountains, gold of the prairies and red of the famed Eastern autumns are all showcased through the range of colours. The blue reflection represents Canada Place’s location on the waterfront and our unique position on the Pacific Ocean.

The maple leaf at the heart of our brand represents all Canadians coming together as one to celebrate Canada’s accomplishments, adventurous spirit and bright glowing future. Like light traveling through a prism, a full spectrum of colour is emitted from the heart of the symbol. The opposite is also true, with all colours coming together to create a unified brilliant light

Finally, “the experience starts here,” demonstrates that Canada Place is where journeys begin, relationships develop, memories are created and inspiration takes place.

Our History

Canada's busiest harbour and third largest city surrounds Canada Place. Rich in history and bustling with activity, Vancouver’s downtown harbour front has seen extensive growth since its humble beginnings. The area now occupied by Canada Place has served as the location for visits from the earliest explorers, the completion of sawmills, the arrival of the first ships to provide lumber to world markets, major immigrations from Asia; the completion of the first transcontinental railway and the arrival of the first train; and the completion of major shipping terminals to support the economy of Western Canada.

The land upon which Canada Place was built has historical beginnings as the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) Pier B-C. This land was granted to CPR for the construction of a railway from sea to sea. Pier B-C’s primary purpose was to serve Canadian Pacific, Royal Mail, NYK, OSK, and other shipping lines trading with the Orient, Australia and New Zealand but it also served the development of British Columbia and the CP Steamships coastal fleet which transported people, vehicles and cargo to virtually every accessible portion of the coast and Vancouver Island until 1955.

In 1978, Federal, Provincial and Municipal governments commenced planning for development of convention, cruise ship and hotel facilities at Pier B-C supported by The Hon. Grace McCarthy. Four years later, the Government of Canada created a crown corporation, Canada Harbour Place Corporation (now known as Canada Place Corporation), to develop the Canada Place project on the Pier B-C site. Canada Place would be used as the Canadian Pavilion at the Expo ’86 World Fair. Construction began when HM Queen Elizabeth II arrived on the royal yacht Britannia with The Right Hon. Pierre Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada and The Hon. William R. Bennett, Premier of BC to initiate the first concrete pour in a caisson located at the southeast corner of the site.

During Expo ’86, the Canada Pavilion at Canada Place was opened by HRH Prince Charles and The Right Hon. Brian Mulroney, Prime Minister of Canada. Among the largest and most elaborate pavilions presented by any nation at any World's Fair, the Canada Pavilion hosted more than 5 million visitors prior to the October 13, 1986 closing date. The Canada Pavilion has been acknowledged as one of the best-ever host nation pavilions at a world exposition. Wholly funded by the Government of Canada, the Canada Pavilion was converted into the Vancouver Trade and Convention Centre in 1987 and was then officially turned over to the Province of British Columbia as a lasting legacy for the Canadian people.

The world class landmark that today is Canada Place is dedicated by the Government of Canada to the people of Canada and the world, who will visit and enjoy the many features of this unique project. Canada Place Corporation(CPC), a Crown agent, continues to act as the coordinating landlord for Canada Place facilities.

Canada Place - Significant Dates