THE CANADA PAVILION AT

THE ROYAL MANITOBA WINTER FAIR IN BRANDON

BRANDON, MANITOBA, March 31, 2010 − Families, visitors, the young and old are encouraged to visit the Canada Pavilion at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair from March 29 to April 3 at The Keystone Centre in Brandon.

“The Government of Canada is pleased to present the Canada Pavilion at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair this year,” said the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services. “The Pavilion provides an excellent opportunity for Canadians and visitors to learn more about the programs and services available to them and to find out more about the government's priorities.”

The Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, which is expecting over 100,000 visitors, is one of western Canada’s largest agricultural events and the largest annual event held in Brandon. At the Royal, there are world-class show jumping and heavy horse competitions, livestock sales and displays, live entertainers, and over 300 commercial and agricultural exhibits.

This year’s Pavilion theme centres around the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Visitors to the Pavilion will be able to learn more about this momentous event through a series of educational displays and interactive activities, such as an Internet station and a memory game. In addition, many government departments will be showcased at the Canada Pavilion, including Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Canada Border Services Agency, Canada Revenue Agency, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Canadian International Development Agency, Health Canada, Public Works and Government Services Canada, and Service Canada.

“The Pavilion also provides a forum for our Government to connect with Canadians. We are here to answer questions and provide information about important matters that concern Canadians,” said Merv Tweed, Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris.  

Each year, the Canada Pavilion visits up to 10 communities across the country. Created in 2000 as the flagship exhibit of the Government of Canada Exhibitions Program, it has won numerous prizes and greeted more than seven million visitors.

For more information on Government of Canada programs and services, visit canada.gc.ca or call toll-free at 1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). For more information on the Government of Canada Exhibitions Program and its 2009-2010 tour, visit http://www.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/expo/index-eng.html.