The Political and Social Significance of Hosting EXPO 2017

The opportunity to host EXPO is a rare one. There are so few chances in today's world to really make a mark, to have the world stand up and take notice. There's just so much going on in our complicated and amazing world that it is tricky to find the right place, the right time and most importantly, the right reason to be able to stand up and say, "Hey, we're onto something pretty great right here, and we'd like to share it with the world." Those chances don't come along every day. Edmonton needs to take its opportunities, and this is a big one. It's made even bigger by the theme we've chosen, Harmony of Energy and Our Future Planet. There is no subject more important, and there's no better place than Edmonton in which to tackle it.

Hosting EXPO in Canada's 150th year makes the opportunity even more compelling. Such a watershed milestone is worthy of a nationwide, yearlong celebration. I cannot think of a more appropriate and symbolic place than our city, Alberta's capital city, as the focal point of this celebration as we come together as a country, celebrate our achievements, and tell the world our story. In 2017, Edmonton will be front and centre − Canada's face to the world. It's a big responsibility, given that Edmonton will be hosting the world's science, business and political leaders in a discussion about energy, sustainability, and the very essence of global stewardship. It's a responsibility we embrace.

What would it mean for Edmonton to be chosen to represent Canada as the host of EXPO 2017? Hosting EXPO 2017 will create many civic legacies that will naturally flow forward into our province and nation. These legacies will take many forms − scientific, cultural, recreational; but I believe the legacy of EXPO 2017 will ultimately be seen in two very significant ways. The first will be knowledge. It will be a festival of knowledge, of innovation, of learning all related to our theme of Harmony of Energy and Our Future Planet. That surge of excitement and intellectual stimulation will be translated into greater international roles for our educational institutions. It will mean centres of learning will be created. It will mean Canada will become even more of a focal point for knowledge and innovation in the global conversation around energy and sustainability.

Another enduring legacy will be the impact on our city's infrastructure, an infrastructure that will be used to create insight into the theme of Harmony of Energy and Our Future Planet. EXPOs have proven themselves to be great instigators of infrastructure development in the cities in which they have been held: architecturally significant buildings, an increased transit system, affordable housing, revitalized streetscapes. All these will be features of the EXPO legacy.

Telling the world about Edmonton is one benefit of hosting EXPO 2017, but another is that we get to welcome the world into our home. Nations from every corner of the planet will bring their energy, their innovation, their knowledge, their culture and their spirit to Edmonton. The very thought of having representatives from 100 nations exhibiting at EXPO gives me goose bumps of excitement.

Furthermore, with our rich mosaic made up of diverse peoples from all corners of the world, combined with a vibrant Aboriginal and Francophone heritage, Edmonton is ideally positioned to host the world. Just as we can increase and enhance our appreciation and understanding of other cultures, we can show others how a Canadian community has achieved so much together. This will have an incredible political and social ripple effect on Canada's reputation at home and abroad.

In short, EXPO 2017, in conjunction with Canada's 150th anniversary, would be as fine a way as I can imagine for us to reach a wider audience with our core message, which is, simply, that Edmonton represents Canada as a great place to live, to work, and to visit. We have what I think is an unbeatable mix of opportunity and lifestyle here in Edmonton, and hosting EXPO 2017 is a way for us to shout that out. We have a fantastic economy, an incredible range of recreational options, and a multicultural population famous for being great neighbours, tireless volunteers, and restless in our search for excellence. Edmonton is, simply, uniquely situated on the world stage: We are a vibrant, multicultural, enthusiastic city at the very centre of both the energy and sustainability industries. There is no better place for EXPO 2017. There's no city better placed to represent Canada on the world stage.

The hosting of EXPO 2017 in Canada's 150th year will be a watershed moment in Edmonton's history, the moment we bring the world into our home to talk about the most important issues imaginable − Harmony of Energy and Our Future Planet. It will be an intellectual, political, recreational and cultural opportunity not to be missed. I can't wait!

Stephen Mandel, Mayor of Edmonton, Alberta

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