Expo 2017
Encyclopedia
Expo 2017 is the next scheduled International Exposition
after Expo 2015
and will be the first of its type since Expo 2012
. The expos in 2010, 2015, 2020 and every 5 years thereafter are considered "universal expos" by the Bureau of International Expositions
(BIE) and the 2017 event will be one of the "recognized" expos with a specialized theme that alternate with the "universal expos." On 1st July 2010 during the 147th session of the General Assembly of member countries of the BIE, held at the headquarters of the International Exhibitions Bureau in Paris, Kazakhstan announced its intention to participate in the bidding process to host the International Specialized Exhibition at Astana in 2017 , hence giving cities with counter-bids six months to respond. The winning candidate will therefore be decided by the BIE in December 2011 in Paris
.
Confirmed bids: Astana
, Kazakhstan
Liège
, Belgium
Possible bids: Newcastle, New South Wales
, Australia
Belgrade
, Serbia
Lille
, France
Stavanger
, Norway
Sydney
, Australia
The NSW government is being urged to bid for the 2017 International Expo. Salamanca
, Spain
and Expo 86
, as well as the fact North America has not staged an expo since 1986, it is generally believed among promoters that Canada would stand a good chance of winning an expo in 2017.
The earliest concerted initiative—for an expo to be staged in Montreal
--was launched by Vancouver based NGO Expo 17
Inc, which released a 51-page proposal tailored to Montreal's existing Vision 2025 report put together by the Société du Havre . The Expo 17 proposal (and web site) strongly advocated Canadian unity and social/environmental sustainability. Specifics of the proposal include "saving the Saint Lawrence River
" as well as revisiting the Habitat 67 housing concept originally featured as a prototype for Expo 67. Most notably, the proposal suggests staging up to three smaller expos (recognized, horticultural and housing expos) to achieve maximum impact and attendance. The proposal and web site were publicly launched in 2007 on the 40th anniversary of Expo 67. However, after a recent decision by Canadian Heritage concerning an officially recognized exposition in Canada in 2017 (see below), an expo in Montreal is no longer possible and the Expo 17 group is now concentrating on alternative expos/events within the rest of Canada, including environmental and housing initiatives.
The city of Hamilton, Ontario
also explored the possibility of an expo in 2017, largely through the Chamber of Commerce. The city of Ottawa
also proposed an expo around this time, with Mayor Larry O'Brien making a public announcement to that effect. Both cities have since abandoned the idea.
Some time after these efforts, the city of Edmonton
became officially interested in staging an expo in 2017. Initially suggested in various media articles earlier on, "Edmonton Expo 2017"
moved further towards serious consideration after city representatives visited Expo 2008
(a recognized expo) in Zaragoza, Spain. Themes originally suggested for Edmonton such as "A New Silk Road: Trade and Commerce", championed by MLA Gary Mar and city councillor Mike Nickel, initially indicated a commercial approach, but the proposed expo has since been brought more into line with environmental concerns, with the now officially proposed theme "Harmony of Energy and Our Future Planet". To date, Edmonton has spent approximately $3.44 million on its expo aspirations, and is working on further approval and financial support from the province of Alberta and the federal government in Ottawa. Public enthusiasm, however, remains elusive, with only 40 citizens attending an open house of Edmonton's Expo bid.
, through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, informed cities in Canada that any interest in staging an expo in 2017 would have to be expressed in writing (letter of intent) by May 29, 2009. In addition, any city exploring the possibility of an expo in 2017 would be required to submit a full bid proposal no later than November the same year. Ottawa, Hamilton and Montreal declined. Edmonton, with a bid proposal already prepared, answered in the affirmative. At the last minute, however, rival Albertan city Calgary sent in a letter of intent to stage an expo in 2017, igniting tensions with Edmonton and provincial officials. The matter has since been dropped, though Calgary mayor David Bronconnier vowed to pursue similar objectives to improve the city. As well, the Expo 17 group, after publicly announcing its withdrawal from Montreal, has committed itself to promoting alternative sesquicentennial events, particularly of pronounced social and environmental value.
World's Fair
World's fair, World fair, Universal Exposition, and World Expo are various large public exhibitions held in different parts of the world. The first Expo was held in The Crystal Palace in Hyde Park, London, United Kingdom, in 1851, under the title "Great Exhibition of the Works of Industry of All...
after Expo 2015
Expo 2015
Expo 2015 is the next scheduled Universal Exposition after Expo 2010, and will be hosted by Milan, Italy. On November 23, 2010, the event was officially announced by the Bureau of International Expositions, after that the BIE assembly in Paris had decided in favour of the Milanese candidature on...
and will be the first of its type since Expo 2012
Expo 2012
Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea is an International Exposition recognized by the Bureau of International Expositions to be held in Yeosu, South Korea from May 12 to August 12, 2012...
. The expos in 2010, 2015, 2020 and every 5 years thereafter are considered "universal expos" by the Bureau of International Expositions
Bureau of International Expositions
The International Exhibitions Bureau is an intergovernmental organization created to supervise international exhibitions falling under the jurisdiction of the Convention Relating to International Exhibitions....
(BIE) and the 2017 event will be one of the "recognized" expos with a specialized theme that alternate with the "universal expos." On 1st July 2010 during the 147th session of the General Assembly of member countries of the BIE, held at the headquarters of the International Exhibitions Bureau in Paris, Kazakhstan announced its intention to participate in the bidding process to host the International Specialized Exhibition at Astana in 2017 , hence giving cities with counter-bids six months to respond. The winning candidate will therefore be decided by the BIE in December 2011 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
Candidate Cities
The following cities have indicated an interest in hosting Expo 2017:| City | Country | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astana Astana Astana , formerly known as Akmola , Tselinograd and Akmolinsk , is the capital and second largest city of Kazakhstan, with an officially estimated population of 708,794 as of 1 August 2010... |
 KazakhstanKazakhstan Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe... |
Confirmed | |
| Liège Liège Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium.... |
 BelgiumBelgium Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many... |
Confirmed | |
| Newcastle, New South Wales Newcastle, New South Wales The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas... |
 AustraliaAustralia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
Possible | |
| Belgrade Belgrade Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe... |
 SerbiaSerbia Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans... |
Possible | |
| Lille Lille Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium... |
 FranceFrance The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France... |
Possible | |
| Stavanger Stavanger Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway... |
 NorwayNorway Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million... |
Possible | |
| Sydney Sydney Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people... |
Australia Australia Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area... |
Possible | The NSW government is being urged to bid for the 2017 International Expo. |
Confirmed bids: Astana
Astana
Astana , formerly known as Akmola , Tselinograd and Akmolinsk , is the capital and second largest city of Kazakhstan, with an officially estimated population of 708,794 as of 1 August 2010...
, Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan
Kazakhstan , officially the Republic of Kazakhstan, is a transcontinental country in Central Asia and Eastern Europe. Ranked as the ninth largest country in the world, it is also the world's largest landlocked country; its territory of is greater than Western Europe...
Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
Possible bids: Newcastle, New South Wales
Newcastle, New South Wales
The Newcastle metropolitan area is the second most populated area in the Australian state of New South Wales and includes most of the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie Local Government Areas...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
Belgrade
Belgrade
Belgrade is the capital and largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers, where the Pannonian Plain meets the Balkans. According to official results of Census 2011, the city has a population of 1,639,121. It is one of the 15 largest cities in Europe...
, Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Stavanger
Stavanger
Stavanger is a city and municipality in the county of Rogaland, Norway.Stavanger municipality has a population of 126,469. There are 197,852 people living in the Stavanger conurbation, making Stavanger the fourth largest city, but the third largest urban area, in Norway...
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
The NSW government is being urged to bid for the 2017 International Expo. Salamanca
Salamanca
Salamanca is a city in western Spain, in the community of Castile and León. Because it is known for its beautiful buildings and urban environment, the Old City was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988. It is the most important university city in Spain and is known for its contributions to...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
Expo 2017 in North America
In North America, at least four cities and/or organizations within Canada have already proposed staging an international exposition in 2017 to coincide with the nation's 150th anniversary of confederation, or sesquicentennial. Due to Canada's previous experiences with Expo 67Expo 67
The 1967 International and Universal Exposition or Expo 67, as it was commonly known, was the general exhibition, Category One World's Fair held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, from April 27 to October 29, 1967. It is considered to be the most successful World's Fair of the 20th century, with the...
and Expo 86
Expo 86
The 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication, or simply Expo '86, was a World's Fair held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from Friday, May 2 until Monday, October 13, 1986...
, as well as the fact North America has not staged an expo since 1986, it is generally believed among promoters that Canada would stand a good chance of winning an expo in 2017.
The earliest concerted initiative—for an expo to be staged in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
--was launched by Vancouver based NGO Expo 17
Expo 17
Expo 17 is a Canadian non-profit organization founded in 2005 to promote an international exposition, or world's fair, to celebrate the sesquicentennial of Canada in 2017. In 2007, the organization publicly unveiled a 51-page proposal for a "hybrid" expo, named Expo 17, to be staged on the...
Inc, which released a 51-page proposal tailored to Montreal's existing Vision 2025 report put together by the Société du Havre . The Expo 17 proposal (and web site) strongly advocated Canadian unity and social/environmental sustainability. Specifics of the proposal include "saving the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
" as well as revisiting the Habitat 67 housing concept originally featured as a prototype for Expo 67. Most notably, the proposal suggests staging up to three smaller expos (recognized, horticultural and housing expos) to achieve maximum impact and attendance. The proposal and web site were publicly launched in 2007 on the 40th anniversary of Expo 67. However, after a recent decision by Canadian Heritage concerning an officially recognized exposition in Canada in 2017 (see below), an expo in Montreal is no longer possible and the Expo 17 group is now concentrating on alternative expos/events within the rest of Canada, including environmental and housing initiatives.
The city of Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
also explored the possibility of an expo in 2017, largely through the Chamber of Commerce. The city of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
also proposed an expo around this time, with Mayor Larry O'Brien making a public announcement to that effect. Both cities have since abandoned the idea.
Some time after these efforts, the city of Edmonton
Edmonton
Edmonton is the capital of the Canadian province of Alberta and is the province's second-largest city. Edmonton is located on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Capital Region, which is surrounded by the central region of the province.The city and its census...
became officially interested in staging an expo in 2017. Initially suggested in various media articles earlier on, "Edmonton Expo 2017"
Edmonton EXPO 2017
The City of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, is developing a bid to host an EXPO in 2017.- Bid Status :In 2007, the City of Edmonton began a high-level assessment of a bid to host an EXPO in 2017 or 2020. A citizen committee comprising 40 community and business leaders participated in developing a...
moved further towards serious consideration after city representatives visited Expo 2008
Expo 2008
Expo 2008 was an international exposition held from Saturday, 14 June to Sunday, 14 September 2008 in Zaragoza, Spain, with the theme of "Water and Sustainable Development". The exposition was placed in a meander of the river Ebro...
(a recognized expo) in Zaragoza, Spain. Themes originally suggested for Edmonton such as "A New Silk Road: Trade and Commerce", championed by MLA Gary Mar and city councillor Mike Nickel, initially indicated a commercial approach, but the proposed expo has since been brought more into line with environmental concerns, with the now officially proposed theme "Harmony of Energy and Our Future Planet". To date, Edmonton has spent approximately $3.44 million on its expo aspirations, and is working on further approval and financial support from the province of Alberta and the federal government in Ottawa. Public enthusiasm, however, remains elusive, with only 40 citizens attending an open house of Edmonton's Expo bid.
Canadian Heritage decision
In the spring of 2009, the department of Canadian HeritageDepartment of Canadian Heritage
The Department of Canadian Heritage, or simply Canadian Heritage |department]] of the Government of Canada with responsibility for policies and programs regarding the arts, culture, media, communications networks, official languages , status of women, sports , and multiculturalism...
, through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, informed cities in Canada that any interest in staging an expo in 2017 would have to be expressed in writing (letter of intent) by May 29, 2009. In addition, any city exploring the possibility of an expo in 2017 would be required to submit a full bid proposal no later than November the same year. Ottawa, Hamilton and Montreal declined. Edmonton, with a bid proposal already prepared, answered in the affirmative. At the last minute, however, rival Albertan city Calgary sent in a letter of intent to stage an expo in 2017, igniting tensions with Edmonton and provincial officials. The matter has since been dropped, though Calgary mayor David Bronconnier vowed to pursue similar objectives to improve the city. As well, the Expo 17 group, after publicly announcing its withdrawal from Montreal, has committed itself to promoting alternative sesquicentennial events, particularly of pronounced social and environmental value.