A chance for reporters to get a peek inside the Canada Pavilion at Vancouver’s downtown Olympic live site was scuttled at the last-minute Wednesday because of workplace safety concerns.
Canadian Heritage minister James Moore, who blamed WorkSafeBC, claimed the $10 million temporary exhibit would open Feb. 13. Chicago-headquartered Giltspur Exhibits began construction Dec. 18.
“People said this wasn’t going to happen, they were wrong,” Moore said. “It’s happening and it’s ahead of schedule, it’s on budget and it looks great.”
The pavilion was announced Sept. 20 and Giltspur hired two months later. Freedom of Information documents from Vancouver city hall show Public Works and Government Services Canada signed a $378,000 rental contract on Oct. 27, 2008, but waited until last summer before it got serious about the pavilion.
“I understand you’re on vacation -- but I need to speak to you or a member of your team today if at all possible on the subject of a Canada Pavilion (yes, again -- and with only 190 days to go!)” said an Aug. 6 email from Federal Winter Games Secretariat director general David Robinson to LiveCity Vancouver executive producer Sue Harvey.
“This project had a sorry record of mismanagement and appears to be continuing,” said Joyce Murray, the federal Liberal Olympic critic. “I hope that in the end they can do something that reflects the investment Canadians are making.”
