Canada Place, Convention center and cruise terminal at Vancouver Waterfront, Canada
Canada Place is a large waterfront building in Vancouver featuring distinctive white roof structures designed to resemble sails jutting over the harbor. It combines a convention center, cruise terminal, and other facilities in a single complex right at the water's edge.
Canada Place stands on the site of Canadian Pacific Railway's Pier B–C, built in 1927 for trans-Pacific shipping and closed in 1955. Planning for a convention, cruise and hotel complex began in 1978; the Canada Harbour Place Corporation was created in 1982. Construction started in 1983 when Queen Elizabeth II, on the Royal Yacht Britannia with Pierre Trudeau and William R. Bennett, poured the first concrete. The Canada Pavilion opened for Expo 86 and drew over five million visitors before closing on October 13, 1986.
The Heritage Horns on the Pan Pacific hotel roof sound the first four notes of O Canada daily at noon, audible across Downtown Vancouver. The ten horns, at 115 decibels, were moved here in 1994 from the BC Electric building. They sounded 26 times during the 2010 Olympics, once per Canadian medal, starting with Jennifer Heil's silver on February 13.
The site is easily accessible and connects directly to the rail station where trains, ferries, and other transit options serve the area. Covered walkways link different parts of the complex, making it convenient to navigate even during wet weather.
The Heritage Horns on the Pan Pacific hotel roof sound the first four notes of O Canada every day at noon, audible across Downtown Vancouver at 115 decibels. Ten horns face five north and five east; they were moved here in 1994 from the BC Electric building and sounded 26 times during the 2010 Olympics, once per Canadian medal.
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