Main gift shop in Canada Closed - never to reopen?

[Rpsemont]

We were in WDW this past week and noticed that the building in Canada of the Chateau Fontenac was closed. CM's in Canada said they didn't know why, but it was not going to reopen - it was closed permanently. I also noticed that the Trading post gift shop only had about half the space with assorted Canadian gifts. The rest looked like the store had been subbed out to a sportwear retailer. Anyone know what's up?

 

[WDSearcher]

The sportswear has been in that shop for some time ... they're treating it like the shop at Norway. Half the shop is gifts and stuff, and half the shop is clothing from Norwegian companies. Haven't heard anything about the other building.

 

[Disneyof3]

I was there on 2/6 and I'm a Canadian and am very disappointed with the whole area repersenting Canada. We aren't only totem poles and eskimo furs and beaver tails. We have so much more to offer than that. I was actually discusted with the area. I had heard they were going to put a Tim Hortons in the place where they use to sell the beaver tails, but I think that was just a rumour. They really need to renovate this area and fast. Please Disney we aren't all the time in snow up to our ears and live in igloos. They is more to us up here than that.

 

[Rudegrle]

Canada at Epcot reminds me more of "Seattle" or the "Pacific NW" . Being from the Seattle area and spending a lot of time in Vancouver, I guess I can see the resemblance or the signifigance of it, but one would think that they would not generalize an entire country based off of one coast. I must say that I feel right at home when I am there . Atleast they included ROOTS!

 

[WDSearcher]

I was there on 2/6 and I'm a Canadian and am very disappointed with the whole area repersenting Canada. We aren't only totem poles and eskimo furs and beaver tails. We have so much more to offer than that. I was actually discusted with the area.

Keep in mind that the government of Canada paid for much of the pavilion and approved its design and offerings. It wasn't just a bunch of American Disney guys doing what they thought Canada was.

Each pavilion is just a "taste" of the country -- a way for the country to show off things that may entice people to further explore the country by visiting it. The pavilions are also there to give folks who will never travel there a bit of the flavor of the land. It's not supposed to be an all-encompassing tour of the nation. France is obviously much more than pastries and the Eiffel Tower; Germany is more than bratwurst and a glockenspeil. None of the pavilions give a full picture of every element of their host country.

I don't look at the Canada pavilion and only see "totem poles and eskimo furs and beaver tails." I see a love of the outdoors, forests and waterfalls, tradings posts and castles, totem poles and fine dining, all bordered by a beautiful garden and shops that offer everything from maple candy to fine perfumes. What do you think Disney should have included but didn't?