Canada’s four Atlantic provinces are planning a bash — an East Coast-style kitchen party to be exact — in the heart of Vancouver during the 2010 Games.

Atlantic Canada House will be situated on Granville Island, overlooking False Creek, and will operate daily during the Games, offering visitors a taste of all things East Coast.

“To say that Atlantic Canada has embraced the spirit of the Games doesn’t do justice to how hard they’ve tried and how much they’ve supported what we’re trying to do,” said VANOC CEO John Furlong.

The house, which encompasses the Granville Island Stage, the Revue Stage and the Backstage Lounge, will welcome Atlantic athletes and their families and will host industry leaders to attract investment to the provinces.

It will also welcome thousands of tourists for food tastings and musical performances. A traditional kitchen party will go late into the night.

There will even be a photo booth, where people can have their picture taken with their favourite East Coast backdrop.

Musician Ashley MacIsaac, who helped announce the pavilion yesterday, said it was a wonderful opportunity for the world to see what Atlantic Canada has to offer, and for Atlantic Canadians to showcase their people and culture to the world.

Furlong, who is originally from Ireland, joked that Atlantic Canada was the only part of the country where he feels truly bilingual (he speaks Gaelic).

“The fact that we have parts of Canada that are closer to Europe than to British Columbia — that are here together working hard to create a Canadian program — is fantastic,” he said.