Vancouver 2010 Royal Canadian Mint Pavilion
byExpecting about 60,000 visitors throughout the duration of the Games, the Royal Canadian Mint has been overwhelmed with the positive public response to their exhibits and Olympic medal displays. Having seen about 80,000 visitors to date already, they have lineups that cross several city blocks, some often waiting about 5-7 hours just to get in the mint.
Located in the beautiful SFU Segal Graduate School of Business building the Royal Canadian Mint features a boutique, coin displays, the “Gold Room”, and of course the most popular attraction – the Olympic and Paralympic medals which the public can touch.
You can learn about the process of making these medals, which are the first-ever non-flat medals in Olympic history. Once the Vancouver 2010 Games are over they’ll live at the Mint in Ottawa and also at the Olympic Museum in Lausanne.
There are dozens of exhibits and commemorative coins on display and the “touch & feel” opportunities make this one of the best pavilions around. You can even catch a glimpse of the Mint’s $1 million gold coin. I was told that when it was made (of the purest gold bullion in the world) they made 4 more for private parties who were interested in purchasing one for themselves. Since it was made, the coin has appreciated and is now worth about $4 million.
Contests
The Royal Canadian Mint is currently running several contests.
The Royal Canadian Mint pavilion will wrap things up February 28th but until that time they are open from 9:00am until 10:00pm daily (at 500 Granville Street).
Update: It should also be noted that there are two lines for the Mint. There is a shorter one for just Mint exhibit access and the much longer one is specifically to view the medals. Make sure you line up in the right one so you don’t miss out.
Update: The Royal Canadian Mint pavilion will be open during the Paralympics. It will move to 350 W Georgia at the Vancouver Public Library’s main branch. Hours of operation will follow the Library’s schedule of Monday to Thursday, 10:00am to 9:00pm, Friday and Saturday 10:00am to 6:00pm, and Sunday 12:00pm to 5:00pm.
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We did an informal survey at our office yesterday. We decided the Mint is the official “line ride” of the Olympics.
Great photos! You should also mention that there are two lines going into the Mint Pavilion though – for those who don’t want to see the medals (or don’t have the time to line up that long), there’s another line for just going to the Pavilion and you get to see everything except for the medals. =)
The medals are gorgeous though, it’s disappointing that most of the pavilions aren’t sticking around during the Paralympic games as well.
@Michelle Good point, I added that in!
Wow – on behalf of everyone at the Royal Canadian Mint, we are humbled by your outstanding post and the photos are fabulous! Thanks Miss604!
[…] Royal Canadian Mint Pavilion Location: 500 Granville Street (at Pender) Events: View the medals for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, children’s activities, coin collection station, boutique. Cost: Admission is FREE and mention “Mint.ca” at the Pavilion Boutique for a 10% discount on all purchases. Website / Twitter, my post […]
Hi!
I enjoyed the pavilion but the lineup for the medals was way too long for me (8+ hrs). Will the pavilion be open for the paralympics?
I would love to see the medals-it’s a once in a lifetime experience. How about extending your stay??
My fiancee and I were at the mint yesterday following the womens bronze medal hockey game. From the time we got in line to the time we left the medal room was 5 hours. It was well worth the wait.
The mint employees were all very vocal about the fact that they may very well be around in during the Paralympic games at the Vancouver Library. I did hear a couple employees say that a rep from the library was by earlier in the day for measurements as to what the mint would require for space.
One other thing that was very cool. We were standing in the foyer waiting for our glove when someone announced that Canada had defeated the USA for the gold. To hear that room break out in O Canada was something I will never ever forget!!!
I believe that the 2010 Olympic medal design is the most creative and authentic, to the host country, that we will ever see again. I only wish this exhibit would stay open longer (maybe on weekends), so that many more British Columbian children can get a chance to feel the weight of their own dreams.
Although we waited in line for 5 1/2 hours it was well worth every second. I am hoping they stay open longer so that my grandchildren will get a chance to see and hold the most beautiful Olympic medals ever presented and know that B.C. and Canada put on the the greatest Olympic’s ever. and perhaps become Olympian’s themselves.
[…] John wasn’t working at the day job, (thank goodness for Saturdays) we headed over to the Royal Canadian Mint so that he could hold the medals for […]
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thanks for updating the new location! 🙂