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Vancouver 2010 Royal Canadian Mint Pavilion

Comments 12 by Rebecca Bollwitt

Expecting 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.

Royal Canadian Mint - Line up

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.


Photo credit: John Biehler on Flickr

Royal Canadian Mint - Olympic Medals Royal Canadian Mint - Olympic Medals

Royal Canadian Mint - Olympic Medals Royal Canadian Mint - Olympic Medals

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.

Royal Canadian Mint - Olympic Silver Medal

Royal Canadian Mint Royal Canadian Mint - Olympic Medals

Royal Canadian Mint - Olympic Silver Medal

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.

Royal Canadian Mint Royal Canadian Mint

Royal Canadian Mint Royal Canadian Mint

Royal Canadian Mint

Contests
The Royal Canadian Mint is currently running several contests.

  • Face of the Games: Visit the boutique inside the pavilion and have a video or photo recorded at their interactive photobooth. You can print off your image or submit it to be the “face of the games”. The winner will be flown to Ottawa and have a medal printed featuring their image. You can also submit your image and story online.
  • Tweet for Gold: Follow @CanadianMint on Twitter and watch for daily updates on how you can win collector coin sets and more.

    • 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.

    Current Contests on Miss604
    *All contests are open to residents of Canada only, unless otherwise stated. Contest timelines are published on each individual post along with entry methods. Some contests may only be open to those 19 years of age and older. Winners are announced on the contest blog posts. Contest policy »

    12 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

    1. RyanWednesday, February 24th, 2010 — 11:08am PST

      We did an informal survey at our office yesterday. We decided the Mint is the official “line ride” of the Olympics.

    2. MichelleWednesday, February 24th, 2010 — 11:08am PST

      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.

    3. Miss604Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 — 11:10am PST

      @Michelle Good point, I added that in!

    4. Carolyn GardnerWednesday, February 24th, 2010 — 12:43pm PST

      Wow – on behalf of everyone at the Royal Canadian Mint, we are humbled by your outstanding post and the photos are fabulous! Thanks Miss604!

    5. Vancouver 2010 Pavilions & Hospitality Houses » Vancouver Blog Miss 604 by Rebecca BollwittWednesday, February 24th, 2010 — 1:12pm PST

      […] 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 […]

    6. JulesFriday, February 26th, 2010 — 1:49pm PST

      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??

    7. Jeff BFriday, February 26th, 2010 — 2:01pm PST

      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!!!

    8. Matina SpiropoulosSaturday, February 27th, 2010 — 5:58pm PST

      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.

    9. Wendy BSaturday, February 27th, 2010 — 10:06pm PST

      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.

    10. Vancouver 2010 Day 16 Wrapping Up » Vancouver Blog Miss 604 by Rebecca BollwittSunday, February 28th, 2010 — 9:47am PST

      […] 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 […]

    11. Vancouver 2010 The Final Tally » Vancouver Blog Miss 604 by Rebecca BollwittMonday, March 1st, 2010 — 4:29pm PST

      […] Vancouver 2010 Royal Canadian Mint Pavilion […]

    12. sherylSunday, March 7th, 2010 — 7:09pm PST

      thanks for updating the new location! 🙂

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