South Pacific Pavilion

The theme of The 1986 World Exposition in Vancouver, Canada, which opened on May 2 and closed on October 13, 1986, was "World in Motion, World in Touch."   A total of 9 nations participated in the South Pacific Pavilion, which is presented below, and therefore they had as the focus of their displays the discovery and settlement of their islands with canoes.   The participating nations were: the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Western Samoa, 

Exterior of the South Pacific Pavilion.

Exterior entrance to the South Pacific Pavilion.

The display at the interior entrance to the pavilion included a list of national participants and their flags.

The unattended displays of the nations were presented along the margins of the pavilion in museum-like configuration.

An example of the what was likely the very best display was that of the Republic of Kiribati, which included photographs of scenes of typical daily life on its low-lying coral atolls.

Presented by Kiribati was a full-sized sailing outrigger canoe of the type frequently still used for fishing and transportation within the lagoons of its atolls, but which shares many of the basic design and sailing characteristics of voyaging canoes.

The Kiribati display also included a hand-woven pandanus mat embroidered with the words "Expo 86" and "Kiribati".

Several other nations provided outrigger models and artifacts depicting voyaging and the settlement of the Pacific islands, which were presented together with murals and photos.

For example, one model of a voyaging outrigger canoe was presented with an illustration of the settlement of Polynesia.

And another model of a voyaging single outrigger sailing canoe was juxtaposed with a full-sized paddling dugout outrigger canoe that was most likely from Papua New Guinea.

As one approached the exit of the pavilion came the striking display (albeit difficult to photograph without a flash, the use of which were not permitted) of some Polynesian images that were most likely from Tonga or Western Samoa.

International Marine Harbour

Also in keeping with the transportation theme of Expo 86, the International Marine Harbour, which was just a few steps away from the South Pacific Pavilion, was intended to be a static display of functioning vessels from throughout the world.  Accordingly, Empyrean International obtained official status for its proposed Baurua Outrigger Expedition and Exhibition.
 

Traditional and historical type vessels from throughout the world were displayed at the International Marine Harbour.

One of the features of the International Marine Harbour were tours aboard historic sailing vessels such as this one.

Planning and Invitations for the
Proposed Pacific Islands Pavilion and
Baurua Outrigger Expedition and Exhibition
 

In the summer of 1985, an unsolicited telephone call was received by the president of Empyrean International, Mr. Robert Gordon (now, Mr. Grosz), at his office in Vancouver, Canada, from the secretary to the Commissioner General of The 1986 World Exposition, Mr. Patrick Reid.  She explained that Commissioner General Reid wished to meet with Mr. Gordon as he understood that Empyrean International had applied to Expo 86 for official sponsorship of an outrigger canoe expedition.  Furthermore, she explained that Mr. Reid had read a recent front page article in the Vancouver Sun, the leading newspaper in Vancouver, about the plans of Empyrean International to develop a unique tourist development down in the South Pacific islands of Kiribati.  However, she would not elaborate further on the purpose of the proposed meeting, which Mr. Gordon agreed to attend.

When Mr. Gordon met with Commissioner General Reid it was explained that several pavilions remained empty and as the exposition was due to open in only a year there naturally was a desire to fill them, and also to technically increase the number of nations counted as participants.  Furthermore, he explained that he had just returned from the Expo 85 at Tsukuba, Japan, and was very impressed by the South Pacific pavilion he had seen there.  Therefore, he wished to have one at Expo 86, but he explained that aside from the availability of a vacant pavilion to house it, there presently was no funding available for one.  Accordingly, he invited Empyrean International to assist in the development of a concept for the pavilion and to help generate interest in the project, which Mr. Gordon agreed to on behalf of Empyrean International.  However, Mr. Gordon suggested that rather than naming it the South Pacific Pavilion, which is exclusive of those nations situated partially or entirely north of the equator, it was more technically correct to name it the Pacific Islands Pavilion, and would distinguish it from the one at Expo 85.  Commissioner Reid, however, commented that he liked the allure of the name "South Pacific."  He also questioned the meaning of the term "Eleemosynary" in the name Empyrean International Eleemosynary.  Mr. Gordon explained that it was an old-English name for foundation.  Commissioner Reid, however, suggested that it would be advisable to change the name to "Foundation."  On that basis, the meeting was concluded, Mr. Gordon returned to his office, and thus Empyrean International began work on what eventually became the South Pacific Pavilion at The 1986 World Exposition.

The office of Empyrean International was located one block from Expo 86 and, to facilitate communications with the Pacific Islands, had a rotating short wave beam antenna mounted on the roof.

Several pavilions remained empty near to the International Marine Harbour, and so Empyrean International proposed that one be designated for the Pacific Islands Pavilion.

This is the left side of the proposed Pacific Islands Pavilion.

This is the rear of the proposed Pacific Islands Pavilion.

This is the inside of the proposed Pacific Islands Pavilion.  The design concept therefore called for creation of a small central amphitheater which could be used by each of the participating nations for scheduled live performances, and the perimeter was to be divided into the regions designated Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia, each of which was to house up to 4 kiosks, for a maximum capacity of 12 nations. 

Empyrean International therefore prepared invitational literature concerning the proposed Pacific Islands Pavilion and the Baurua Outrigger Expedition and Exhibition, together with a concept document for a separate Expo 86 pavilion called the House of Navigation concerning the means by which Pacific Islanders navigated and detected islands, as well as a brochure with charts of certain key atolls of the Republic of Kiribati, all of which are presented below.

By early September, 1985, this literature had been distributed to 36 Pacific Island nations and territories inviting them to participate in the Pavilion, and a letter was sent by Empyrean International's president, Mr. Gordon, to Commissioner General Patrick Reid, to advise him of this fact and to seek appropriate assistance.  He replied with some warm words of encouragement, but explained that the process of securing official participation of nations was the responsibility of the government of Canada.   Mr. Reid later explained to Mr. Gordon that all of the pavilions had by then been filled, but the Commonwealth Secretariat in London was contemplating the provision of funding in support of the creation of the South Pacific Pavilion, and if funding was available then a South Pacific Pavilion would have to be built.  Mr. Gordon explained that Empyrean International's work on the pavilion concept was done, and that it therefore needed to focus its efforts on the Baurua Outrigger Expedition and Exhibition.  Accordingly, Mr. Gordon departed shortly thereafter for Tarawa in the Republic of Kiribati.  The Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia eventually continued the work, and ultimately the South Pacific Pavilion was constructed, moreover one can see its three roofs a clear resemblance to that of the proposed three regions of the proposed Pacific Islands Pavilion.

Below is a list of the Pacific Island nations and territories that were invited, together with a handful of interesting letters received by Empyrean International from various nations or territories that eventually were interested but unable to participate.

In October, 1985, Mr. Gordon, photographed below in his office with a model of a baurua outrigger canoe, refocused the efforts of Empyrean International to launching the Baurua Outrigger Expedition to Expo 86, or at least securing a baurua outrigger to be shipped to the International Marine Harbour at Expo 86 for exhibition.

The story continued with the
Baurua Outrigger Expedition
click here to link to it

Copyright © 2006, Atoll Institute, all rights reserved.      info@atollinstitute.org