Canada's Olympic pavilion big tent called 'rinky dink' and 'embarrassing'

Opinion is growing that the $10-million Canada pavilion in downtown Vancouver is an "embarrassment" to the country -- and a "rinky-dink" effort by the 2010 host country.

"It looks like a temporary tent," said North Vancouver resident Alastair Campbell, in town to take a peek on Wednesday.

"I'm very disappointed. It's not very impressive. It seems the federal government forgot they had to have a pavilion," he said.

"It was done at the last minute. To showcase this to the world is embarrassing. They've let go a major opportunity. It's being upstaged by other countries and provinces. This is really rinky-dink."

"Something should have been done [that] was architecturally creative and innovative.

"The aboriginal [pavilion] is a real showcase for their culture. The Northern House is really something."

Vancouver resident Janine Martin said $10 million "sounded like an awful lot for a temporary structure."

The pavilion, a white canvas tent-like structure at Georgia and Beatty, has already been panned by professional architects.

World-renowned Vancouver architect Bing Thom told CBC Radio he could tell early on that something would be done "quick and cheap."

"We listened to too much advice from the Americans. There was all this talk about not being worried about the architecture.

"The whole short-term mentality, the power of a world event when two billion people are watching, we have to think about the message we're conveying to people," he said.

The prefabricated two-storey structure was built by a Chicagobased company that won the bid last November.

It is located in an off-limits area behind three metal fences and numerous security guards.

Heritage Ministry spokeswoman Dierdra McCracken said that while everyone is entitled to their opinion, the ministry is confident visitors will "be satisfied."

"We think it looks quite nice," she said. "There will be lighting effects the public hasn't seen. We want them to wait before forming their opinions."

She said the federal government met all its deadlines.

"Having something up in February doesn't mean you have to start work in July," she said.

The pavilion won't open on Day 1 of the Olympics; it will be unveiled on Day 2, on Feb. 13.

McCracken said that no media preview has been allowed because technicians are still working on the wiring.

kspencer@theprovince.com