OTTAWA -- "C" stands for Canada, and for the shape of Canada's pavilion at the Shanghai Expo 2010, to be held from May 1 to October 31. But it also stands for culture and cities, which are both expected to make major contributions on behalf of The Great White North next year.

The pavilion building is shaped like a looped ribbon or large letter "C" for Canada and is divided into areas for the public, for entertaining special guests, and for administration, explained Dominique Collin, media relations advisor in the ministry of Canadian Heritage.

CIRQUE DU SOLEI PLUS POP PUNK PRINCESS

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Less than half of participating countries will build an original pavilion. None will have other famous "C" from Canada -- Cirque du Soleil -- as the culture organizer within the pavilion.

The pavilion, created by the Canadian government in partnership with the Cirque du Soleil, will be an excellent showcase for Canada's theme -- "The Living City: inclusive, sustainable, creative," Collin said in an interview with Xinhua.

"It will be fun, thought-provoking, and informative, and filled with inspirational images about Canada that reflect our theme," Collin said.

Canada's 6,000-square-meter plot on the Pudong side of the Huangpu River in Shanghai is expected to draw 30,000 visitors per day, 5.5 million in total.

The key element of the design is the open-air public space. Visitors will enter the pavilion through a public square, which will include a performing area for some of Canada's top entertainers, and then circulate through the larger structure that houses the public presentation.

"Our objective is to make the Canada Pavilion the destination of choice at this Expo," Collin concluded.

Cirque du Soleil has invited Canadian artists to apply for a position on the program, said spokesperson Tania Ormejuste, with the finalists to be announced on July 9 this year.

"We'll have a good mix of emerging and renown artists," she said. "Cirque du Soleil is keen to go to Shanghai. Every time we' ve gone we've gotten a positive response."

One of the renowned artists she spoke of will be none other than pop punk princess Avril Lavigne, who was recently named Canadian ambassador to Shanghai Expo.

The 24-year-old singer of "Girlfriend" wrote of her fondness for Shanghai on her website, where her hit song "Girlfriend" is enjoying great success in translation.

"It's really cool that over 200 countries and international organizations are coming together at World Expo, Shanghai to create a better future for the world," Lavigne wrote. "I've played two shows in Shanghai. It's a great city and I look forward to visiting again next year."

AN OPPORTUNITY NOT AFFORD TO MISS

Two former Canadian host cities will be represented at the Expo. The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal (BTMM) is sending a trade mission, and Vancouver's skill at urban design will also be on display.

Montreal holds the record for most visitors to a 20th century Expo. The 1967 International and Universal Exposition, also called Expo 67 or the Montreal World's Fair, is considered the most successful event of its kind last century.

BTMM President and CEO Michel Leblanc is counting on China's first World Expo to be the best of the 21st century in order to boost trade between the two cities. His organization is organizing a trade mission to China in 2010.