All the world’s a stage…literally! As unique as the countries in which they take place, World Expos showcase the best that each city and country can offer visitors. Expos are considered to be the intellectual parallel to the Olympics (City of Edmonton) , as a celebration of ideas, growth and worldwide change. They can help to provide funding for the new, the greatly needed and the never imagined. They are, in short, the next step for every city on the brink of a tipping point between new and old—and often times, they can make or break a city’s reputation.
Consider Expo ’67, in Montreal, Quebec. As the first Canadian Expo, this world-class, 6 month-long event brought Canada to the world stage in style. It drew visitors from all over the world, sponsorship from wealthy and influential companies, and the opportunity for the elderly city to revamp its image. Infrastructure improved, thousands of jobs were created, and the local economy burst with opportunity and innovation. Money, fame, and love from adoring world citizens—what more could a (then) 135-year old city ask for? In fact, this Expo was perfectly timed to coincide with Canada’s 100th birthday, giving extra “oompf” to the proceedings.
What city wouldn’t want to host this legendary occasion? Which country could easily say “no” to the boom of opportunities this event can bring?
Well, apparently Canada can.
Stephen Harper’s Conservative government recently pulled back on their promise to support Edmonton’s Expo 2017 bid and without extra funding from the federal government, Edmonton has little hope of pulling together enough funds on its own. Apparently “security costs” will be too high and the payback too low for government to provide the needed support.
It then becomes a matter of opinion. On one hand, we are just beginning to recover from a major, worldwide, economic downturn: the markets are still shaky, consumer spending has not recovered completely, and 7.6 % of the population is still unemployed (Statistics Canada) . It seems frivolous to commit 10 million dollars (CBC News) to a festival when the money could be spent elsewhere. But here lies part of the problem: where will this money go if it is not put towards Expo 2017? Certainly, the money could be used to create more jobs, fund construction and infrastructure projects, develop and improve the health care system or pay off the national debt—but none of these alternatives would have as long-lasting and beneficial effects as the Edmonton Expo.
Many people will argue that Montreal and Vancouver settled into enormous debts after their respective Expos. However, the overall benefits to the cities (which cannot be measured numerically) far outweigh the costs. Infrastructure improved greatly, and the majority of the specially constructed buildings have been reincarnated as useful spaces for the public and for businesses. Innumerable jobs were created and are still functioning today. On a global scale, each of these cities gained international recognition and fame, which are still playing an enormous role in their economies as well as their reputation as current, metropolitan cities.
As a University student, I’d also like to point out that the University of Alberta South Campus has been proposed as a possible Expo site. Transforming this ill-used space into something that the University and city of Edmonton can be truly proud of will benefit future students—without calling on our apparently cash-strapped University to fund the transformation.
And, last but not least, 2017 will mark Canada’s 150th birthday! There’s no better way to celebrate than to show the world that we are modern and innovative society (while promoting ourselves as a globally significant country).
Edmonton truly NEEDS Expo 2017. As Edmontonians, we are striving for “a City that is steadily transforming itself to reflect a true representation of a progressive, sustainable urban environment (CBC News) .” Without this support, Edmonton may never live up to its potential as a major global centre.
Works Cited (Don’t Ixnay the Expo)
CBC News. Edmonton's Expo 2017 bid a no-g. 22 November 2010. 2 December 2010 <http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2010/11/22/edmonton-feds-kill-expo-bid.html>.
City of Edmonton. Edmonton Expo 2017: Imagine. 2010. 2 December 2010 <http://www.edmontonexpo2017.com/>.
Statistics Canada. Latest release from the Labour Force Survey. 3 December 2010. 5 December 2010 <http://www.statcan.gc.ca/subjects-sujets/labour-travail/lfs-epa/lfs-epa-eng.htm>.
