Celebrating the natural cycle of Canada’s seasons, the exterior architecture of Canada’s pavilion at Expo 2025 is inspired by springtime ice formations found across the northern parts of our land. While much more modest than Canada’s mirror-clad masterpiece at Expo ’70 by famed Vancouver architect Arthur Erickson, the current design by architects Rayside Labossière and Guillaume Pelletier provides a fitting introduction to the exhibits within, designed by Quebec’s renowned cultural polymath, Robert Lepage.

The exhibits are a charming take on Canada’s annual miracle of regeneration as the monotonous whiteness of ice and snow is quickly replaced by a vibrant palette of springtime color. Before entering the dimly lit interior, each visitor is issued a special handheld video tablet. Once inside, the visitor comes across a series of large white shapes resembling icebergs. Each one is, in effect, a blank canvas. When you point your tablet at an iceberg, magical scenes suddenly appear: bare trees that burst into leaf; icy cliffs that spout elegant waterfalls; tunnels that appear in a rock face from which trains emerge, and more.

It must be said though, the tablets are a bit fiddly. So the pavilion hosts are kept busy showing visitors how it all works. This crew of 30 mostly young men and women from across Canada, many of them trilingual, are actually the best thing about the pavilion. Following a tradition refined over Canada’s participation in four previous Expos in Japan, they are friendly, welcoming and outgoing. Likely thanks in large part to their efforts, several media reports have tagged Canada as one of the most popular national pavilions.

A couple of other pavilion features worth mentioning: the ‘poutinerie’ sponsored by Air Canada and the pair of Mounties in their iconic red serge uniforms.

May 17, Canada Day at Expo, was unfortunately marred by heavy rain. Nonetheless, the pavilion’s ceremonial opening was attended by numerous Japanese and Canadian dignitaries, including Ambassador Ian McKay, pavilion head Laurie Peters, Costco Japan country head Ken Theriault and CCCJ Chair Marc Bolduc along with several of his fellow CCCJ Governors. A large contingent from Nagoya’s Tokai Japan-Canada Society were also in attendance.

The opening speeches were followed by a series of musical and dance performances. Where previous Expos featured A-list stars like k.d. lang, The Nylons, Loreena McKennitt and Rita McNeil, this time unheralded Canadian talents were given a chance to shine. Quirkily curated by Canada’s National Arts Centre, the line-up is perhaps most accurately described as a bold affirmation of Canada’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and reconciliation. Acts celebrated a diversity of backgrounds and body images, including First Nations, Metis, Acadian and Black performers. It opened with a somewhat puzzling discourse by Anishnaabe elder Gerard Sagassige that included an apology to Japanese in the audience for “trespassing on your land.” All-in-all, it was thoroughly Canadian!

Later in the day, a reception for invited guests was held in the pavilion’s spacious party room prior to an evening concert featuring many of the same performers.

Visitors line up to enter Canada’s iceberg-inspired pavilion at Expo 2025

Canada Day at Expo 2025 featured a diverse array of Canadian talent

Iceberg forms in the exhibit (below) transform into images of nature on handheld tablets (above)