British Columbia

British Columbia's exhibits consisted of three buildings and several outdoor venues.

West of the Plaza of Nations, the Challenge B.C. building was dedicated to B.C. industry.  To the East, Discovery B.C. paid tribute to the spirit of innovation and high technology.  Showcase B.C. was an entertainment complex.  Two waterfront areas exhibited British Columbia's unique maritime heritage.

The main pavilion, built primarily of steel and glass, was designed as a post-modern tribute to the Crystal Palace built in London's Hyde Park for the first World's Fair in 1851.
 

The entrance to Discovery BC was accessed through a transplanted temperate rain forest. The tall Hemlock, Fir and Spruce trees were a shady retreat during the hot summer queues.  The first exhibit inside mirrored the forest.  As the visitor entered, it was clear that the cathedral-like glass structure made a perfect greenhouse for the indigenous plants. Native wood carvings welcomed visitors to the natural wonders of British Columbia exhibit.  This area was not simply a visual experience but an attempt to show visitors the mystical beauty of British Columbia and how the landscape spawned wondrous Native legends.  Next were the Trees of Discovery.  These exhibit towers took visitors (via elevated floor) on a vertical ride.  Each of the four towers showcased innovations of the past and possible inventions of the future.  The fourth "Tree of Discovery" housed a simulated rescue operation as if the visitor was inside a submersible. After a walk through an array of stationary exhibits and art works, the visitor to this pavilion was then treated to a film.

On the other side of the Plaza of Nations in Challenge B.C.'s pre show, a seemingly typical and quiet warehouse exploded into action as electronic wizardry and live performances combined to create a humorous tribute to British Columbia's workers.   The main show consisted of a panoramic tripple-screen theatre portrayed the lifestyle and dreams of British Columbians working in the Natural Resource sector.

Showcase B.C. housed several caberets.

Outside, lumberjacks from across Canada and the U.S. showed off their skills in a highly amusing compitition.  The timber show is a traditional Canadian favourite.
 
 

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