More than 1,000 Canadian towns in 106 days: that was the epic scale of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Torch Relay, the longest torch relay in history across a single country. On its 45,000 km (28,000 mi) odyssey, the Olympic Flame—carried by more than 12,000 men, women and children—was never more than an hour’s drive from 90% of Canada’s 33.8 million people. On Feb. 11, the Olympic Torch arrives in the Olympic Host City of Vancouver, BC, and will move through local neighbourhoods and communities during a two-day relay that winds up at LiveCity Yaletown in David Lam Park, where thousands are expected to gather to celebrate during live, multicultural performances.

Lighting the Olympic Cauldron:
On Feb. 12, Vancouver, BC, and Canada will shine brightly when the Olympic Flame lights the Olympic Cauldron at 55,000-seat BC Place Stadium to officially open the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Who will carry the torch into BC Place to its final resting place? It’s still a secret, but in the past famous former athletes have been granted the honour. VANOC says the opening ceremonies—which tell “the unique story of Canada”—will be broadcast to an expected audience of three billion.

Public Pavilions & Hospitality Houses:
The public can also enjoy Canada’s unique story at free pavilions and hospitality houses, hosted from Vancouver to Whistler by each province and territory as well as several Vancouver municipalities:
Aboriginal Pavilion - Four Host First Nations
Supported by VANOC and the Four Host First Nations (FHFN), this 745 sq-m (8,000-sq-ft) pavilion uses the latest technology to showcase the diversity of Aboriginal art, business, culture and sport from across Canada. Inside, a huge multimedia sphere will be surrounded by a Coast Salish longhouse with a trading post that will be relocated after the Games as a permanent legacy. The adjacent Queen Elizabeth Restaurant will be converted into a reception hall featuring Aboriginal exhibits and cuisine.

Open: Feb.12 to 28, 10 am to 3 pm and 5:30 pm to midnight
Location: Queen Elizabeth Theatre Plaza (W. Georgia St. and Hamilton St.),
www.fourhostfirstnations.com/pavilion

Alberta House and Alberta Plaza
Alberta House will provide an environment for business relationship-building. Alberta Plaza, outside Alberta House, will be open to the public daily to showcase the many facets of living, working, visiting and investing in Alberta. Albertan artists such as Corb Lund and Feist will perform on the plaza in the evenings. Feb. 17 is Alberta Day at the Games and the smooth tones of Paul Brandt will close out the Victory Ceremony at BC Place that evening.

Open: Feb. 12 to 28, 10 am to 4 pm; entertainment centre from 5 pm to 11 pm
Location: Alberta House, the Atlantic Trap & Gill; Alberta Plaza, across from BC Place (Robson St. and Beatty St.), www.alberta.ca/vancouver2010

Atlantic Canada House
Canada's East Coast will come alive on the West Coast at Atlantic Canada House, presented by Canada's four Atlantic Provinces—Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador—along with the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Taste Atlantic Canada's culinary delights and discover the region's culture and spirit. Atlantic Canada House will offer the best of Atlantic hospitality and music at the Granville Island Stage, the Revue Stage and the Backstage Lounge on Granville Island.

Open: Feb. 13 to 28
Location: Granville Island, Arts Club, www.atlanticcanadahouse.com

British Columbia Showcase
Through state-of-the-art exhibits and interactive displays at the British Columbia Showcase, visitors from around the world can fully experience the best of British Columbia. The Showcase will offer an immersive introduction to the province, its culture, businesses and people.

Open: Feb. 12 to 28, 10 am to 5 pm
Location: Robson Square, www.2010bcsecretariat.ca/Programs/RobsonSquare.aspx

BC Robson Square Celebration Site
With an outdoor ice rink, daily entertainment and nightly dazzling displays, Robson Square will be a downtown playground for visitors to revel in the beauty of British Columbia while sharing the excitement of the 2010 Winter Games.

Open: Feb. 12 to 28, 10 am to 10 pm
Location: Robson St. between Hornby St. and Howe St., www.gov.bc.ca

Canada Pavilion
Through interactive exhibits, multimedia presentations and innovative content, the Canada Pavilion will highlight Canadian excellence in sport and profile Canada as an ideal business, investment and tourism destination.

Location: LiveCity Yaletown (W. Georgia St. and David Lam Park), http://www.olympic.ca/en/news/canada-pavilion-set-2010/

CentrePlace Manitoba
A 38-screen, panoramic video presentation will immerse viewers in the best of Manitoba and showcase the people, places and spirit that make Manitoba unique. Designed to the highest green standards, CentrePlace Manitoba has been awarded VANOC’s “Sustainability Star” designation.

Open: Feb. 13 to 27, 11 am to 12:30 am; Feb. 28, 11 am to 2:30 pm; Mar. 12 to 21, 1 pm to 9 pm
Location: LiveCity Downtown (W. Georgia St. and Beatty St.), www.gov.mb.ca/centreplace/index.html

City of Vancouver – LiveCity Sites

LiveCity Downtown
This former bus depot site—adjacent to the Queen Elizabeth Theatre and next to the Stadium SkyTrain station—will be a central site for various Olympic and Paralympic sport and cultural programming. Visitors gathering in this downtown “piazza” can watch competitions on a large outdoor screen and enjoy live daytime and evening entertainment. 

Open: Feb. 13 to 28, 11 am to 12:30 am(also during the Paralympics: March 18-21, 1 pm to 9 pm)
Location: W. Georgia St. and Beatty St., http://olympichostcity.vancouver.ca/events/livecity/georgiastreet.htm
LiveCity Yaletown
At the waterfront David Lam Park, located along False Creek just a few minutes from BC Place Stadium, LiveCity Yaletown will host Olympic sport and cultural programming, a waterside stage, big-screen sports highlights and a nightly closing show, suitable for the entire family.

Location: David Lam Park, http://olympichostcity.vancouver.ca/events/livecity/davidlampark.htm

Northern House
Canada’s three northernmost territories—Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut—will showcase their culture, tourism, investment and lifestyle opportunities along with their own athletes playing unique Inuit and Dene games. Performers will demonstrate oral storytelling, Inuit throat‐singing, Dene drumming and fast‐paced Métis fiddling.

Open: Jan. 15 to March 31
Location: 602 W. Hastings St., www.canadasnorth.com

Ontario Pavilion
This pavilion will reinforce Ontario’s Olympic brand message, ‘‘There’s No Place Like This…’’ with home-grown talent, products, services, and experiences.

Location: Concord Place, www.tourism.gov.on.ca/olympicgames2010/

Maison du Quebec
Maison du Quebec will feature a daily show by Inuit performers at 2:30 pm, followed by headline performers at 6 pm, 7 pm and 8 pm. Visitors will also be able to watch the Games competitions on TV screens in the adjacent bistro, which will feature authentic Québécois food and drink.

Open: Feb. 12 to 28, noon to midnight
Location: Concord Place, close to Hockey House, www.tourisme.gouv.qc.ca/activites/maisonQcVancouver/

Richmond O Zone
The O Zone covers more than 60 acres in the heart of Richmond city centre. Highlights will include performances by bands such as Bedouin Soundclash, Our Lady Peace, Tokyo Police Club and Wintersleep, plus multicultural theme nights encompassing World Beat, Jazz, the North, Acadia and Chinese New Year.

Open: Feb. 12 to 28; weekdays, 3 pm to 11 pm; weekends, noon to 11 pm
Location:  Richmond City Hall (6911 No. 3 Rd.) and Minoru Park (7191 Granville Ave.), Richmond, www.richmondozone.ca

Saskatchewan Pavilion
The two-part pavilion features a six-storey video dome as a business centre and an entertainment venue and showcases Saskatchewan business opportunities, vacation destinations, immigration opportunities and quality of life.   

Open: Feb. 12 to 28, 11 am to 1 am
Location: Concord Place, www.saskpavilion.com

Surrey Celebration Site
The City of Surrey will play host to the biggest Games-time celebration south of the Fraser River. The festival site will feature live entertainment, and Games broadcasts, performances by big-name Canadian talent, and onsite activities including daily performances by Canada’s famous RCMP Musical Ride.

Open: Feb. 12 to 28
Location:  Holland Park, (King George Hwy and Old Yale Rd.), Surrey, http://www.surrey2010.com/ 

Whistler Live!
This outdoor network of stages, screens and performance sites throughout Whistler Village will create a dynamic fusion of sport and art, including live music, short films, street performances, and visual arts featuring artists from the Sea-to-Sky Corridor, across Canada and around the world.

Open: Feb. 12 to 28, 9 am to 11 pm
Location: Village Square, http://www.whistler2010.com/whistler-live/

West Vancouver
West Vancouver is an official Venue City for the 2010 Winter Games and the celebrations at this site are all about community. In the heated and covered atrium at Spirit Square, family and friends can gather to watch the Games and a CTV broadcast of Olympic events on big screens. Evenings will feature a mix of national and local talent, from rock to classical. In addition, a Sports in Space Exhibit features the Canadian Space Agency’s scale model of the International Space Station.

Open: Feb. 12 to 28, Sun to Thu, 9 am to 9 pm; Fri & Sat, 9 am to 11:30 pm
Location: West Vancouver Spirit Square, 2121 Marine Dr., West Vancouver, www.westvancouver2010.ca

www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-torch-relay/
www.vancouver2010.com/