TORONTO, May 12 (Xinhua) -- While a group of Canadian street performers heads for Shanghai to entertain visitors at the ongoing World Expo, another Canadian crowd also flock to the Chinese city to explore opportunities.

The latter contingent includes big names as Bombardier, Research in Motion (RIM), major commercial banks, as well as emerging enterprises in sectors of renewable energy, life sciences, information and communication technologies.

Whatever they may encounter at the expo, those Canadian firms will see it as a unique opportunity to present themselves to China and Chinese firms, according to the Department of Canadian Heritage, organizer of the Canada Pavilion at the expo.

Peter Harder, president of Canada-China Business Council, agreed.

"It's a terrific opportunity for Canadian companies to introduce themselves to China and its 1.3 billion people, plus the global visitors." "I think connecting with the event is very helpful for Canadian businesses that want to succeed in China," Harder told Xinhua.

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All the five major sponsors of the Canada Pavilion, namely Teck Resources, Bombardier, Power Corporation, the National Film Board, and RIM, have planned meetings, seminars and gatherings at the pavilion.

"There is a courtyard named after Bombardier at the pavilion with our sponsorship. We will be presenting ourselves at the pavilion throughout the expo, showcasing our products, such as Bombardier Metro Carts," Isabelle Rondeau, director of communications at Bombardier, told Xinhua.

Ottawa-based Clearford Industries Inc., a wastewater collection service developer, will host two VIP receptions on May 12 at the Canada Pavilion. Among the several hundred guests will be officials from major Chinese cities such as Chongqing, Wuhan and Dalian.

"We will showcase how our system has excelled under very strict rules around preserving water in Canada. The reception is more of an education session. Our system has been utilized in Canada for more than 20 years, but it has never been used in China, "said Bruce Linton, president and CEO of Clearford.