That '80s Show Embarrasses Canadians
Disney's Epcot to update 1982 film


TONY ATHERTON
CanWest News Service
7/24/07

The year was 1982. Pierre Trudeau was prime minister, the Jays played at Exhibition Stadium, Vancouver's False Creek was an industrial wasteland and a film called O Canada! was the star attraction of the Canada Pavilion at the brand-new Epcot Centre at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla.

A quarter of a century later, the 18-minute, 360-degree film is still packing 'em in at Epcot, but its dated and often hokey portrayal of the country has become a painful embarrassment for Canadian tourism officials and for many of the tens of thousands of Canadians who visit the theme park each year.

Ancient footage of the RCMP Musical Ride, flannel-wearing fishermen, fleeting and outdated aerial shots of Canadian cities and voice-overs by actors affecting bad Newfoundland and Quebec accents are all cited in the steady stream of complaints about the film fielded each year by the Canadian Tourism Commission.

Soon, however, Canadian visitors to Epcot may no longer be blushing as bright at Mickey Mouse's red lederhosen. Seven years after former Canadian Tourism Commission president Jim Watson launched a campaign to have the Disney-made film updated, it seems a new version of O Canada! will debut Aug. 25 - with help from some high-profile Canadians: Gatineau's Canadian Idol winner Eva Avila and, Disney buffs say, comedian Martin Short.

The folks at Disney won't confirm or deny rumours the film is being relaunched next month. Walt Disney Canada spokeswoman Angela Saclamacis will only say "we are expecting some good things over at Epcot ... but we're not prepared to announce anything officially at this time."

However, an official Disney website notes the O Canada! film exhibit at the Canada Pavilion, a circular room with nine large screens surrounding an audience pit, will be shut down from Aug. 20-24 for "refurbishment."