While in Canada, Walk the Walk and Talk the Talk

Canada Place gives visitors tips on becoming “Authentically Canadian”

February 19, 2010, (Vancouver, B.C.) – We’ve turned throwing rocks into a sport, we eat every part of the donut (including the hole) and we say sorry – a lot. We’re Canadian, eh. Over the next few weeks, thousands of visitors to our great country will receive valuable tips on our unique customs and culture via a nifty handbook created by Canada Place.

“It’s one of those travel challenges when visiting other countries,” says Brett Calder, Manager, Communications & Public Affairs, Canada Place Corporation. “Visitors want to appear less like a tourist and more like a local. We wanted to make it easy and fun to understand a bit more about our idiosyncrasies in order to make their experience more authentic.”

By using a tongue-in-cheek format, “A Guide to Becoming an Authentic Canadian” provides visitors with a unique and fun perspective on the basics of being Canadian. Whether they are determining appropriate attire for the hockey game, hoping to sing along to ‘O Canada’ when our athletes win gold, figuring out if they have a “loonie” or a “toonie” in their pocket, or wondering the significance of the sails at Canada Place, this guide will have the answers they are looking for.

“The experience starts here at Canada Place,” continues Calder. “Visitors to our Welcome Centre who receive the handbook will be well on their way to becoming ‘Authentically Canadian’ in no time.”
 
The Canada Place Welcome Centre is located in the Main Plaza at Canada Place, instantly recognizable by its enormous Canadian flag. “A Guide to Becoming an Authentic Canadian” is available throughout the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, while supplies last. The handbook includes such topics as: Canadian Slang Language, Cuisine, Games, Dress Codes, Manners, the National Anthem, and Canadian Icon references. The handbook also features a special tear-away Authentic Canadian Certificate, an unofficial authorization on becoming “Authentically Canadian.”

ABOUT CANADA PLACE
Located in the heart of Vancouver’s downtown harbour front, Canada Place generates over $1 billion per year in economic activity and is the inspiring national landmark welcoming local residents, visitors and ships to the West Coast. Canada Place Corporation is the owner of Canada Place, and is the coordinating landlord for the organizations at Canada Place including the Pan Pacific Hotel, Port Metro Vancouver head office and Cruise Ship Terminal, World Trade Centre, VINCI Park parkade and Vancouver Convention Centre East. Canada Place Corporation hosts a number of marquee annual community events including Canada Day and Christmas at Canada Place. Canada Place is home to the Main Press Centre during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. www.canadaplace.ca.

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For more information, please contact:
Brett Calder                                                                                     
Canada Place                                                                                   
T: 604.775.6245                                                                               
E: bcalder@canadaplace.ca

Betsy Cooper    
b*co communications                                                          
T: 778-229-4947
E: cooper@b-co.ca

For a copy of A Guide to Becoming An Authentic Canadian, please email media@canadaplace.ca.