Expo 86
Logo of Expo 86
The Expo 86 (official 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication) was a World's Fair, which until October 13, 1986 took place on May 2 in the Canadian city of Vancouver. The exhibition was held in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the city foundation Vancouver, the exhibition area was located on the north shore of False Creek. 54 countries took part and there were counted more than 22 million visitors. It was the second time that Canada held a World's Fair, after the Expo 67 in Montreal, which was held on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of Canada.
Preparations
By the end of the 1970s was 0.7 km ² site on False Creek, and later held the exhibition on a disused freight station of the Canadian Pacific Railway and an industrial wasteland. 1978 suggested Sam Bawlf ( then Minister of Recreation and Environmental Protection of the Province of British Columbia ) before an exhibition to celebrate the centenary of the city of Vancouver in 1986. 1980, the provincial government decided to conduct a exhibition called Transpo 86 and certain Vancouver as the venue.
The people in charge changed in October 1981 in the name of Expo 86 after it became clear that there would be a World's Fair. As an exhibition on transport and communication has been established. Construction began in October 1983, but had to be interrupted because of strikes in 1985 for five months. The construction costs were $ 8,000,000 lower than originally foreseen.
Exhibition
The exhibition was opened on 2 May 1986 by Prince Charles, Princess Diana and Prime Minister Brian Mulroney. It consisted of pavilions from 54 countries and numerous organizations. Participants were given the opportunity to design their pavilion itself or to choose a less expensive Expo module. This module was designed so that several elements could be combined in any order.
Pavilions
Pavilions of the Canadian provinces and territories: Alberta, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Iceland, Quebec, Saskatchewan, Yukon Territory and Northwest Territories
National pavilions: Australia, Barbados, Belgium, Brunei, China, Costa Rica, Germany, Ivory Coast, European Community, France, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Yugoslavia, Canada, Kenya, Cuba, Malaysia, Mexico, Norway, Eastern Caribbean States, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Senegal, Singapore, Soviet Union, Spain, Sri Lanka, South Korea, South Pacific States, Thailand, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and USA
Pavilions of U.S. states: California, Oregon, Washington
Pavilion of companies and organizations: Air Canada, BCTV, Canadian National Railway, General Motors ( the Spirit Lodge was by designer Bob Rogers and indigenous people from Alert Bay developed ), VIA Rail, United Nations, Canadian Pacific Railway, Telecom Canada
Other pavilions and exhibitions: Great Hall of Ramses II, Major Norwegian explorer, Pavilion of Promise, engine shed with numerous steam locomotives, Expo Centre
Famous visitors and performing artists
Nobility: Prince Charles and Princess Diana (United Kingdom), Crown Prince Harald and Crown Princess Sonja (Norway )
Politicians: Brian Mulroney ( Canadian Prime Minister ), Margaret Thatcher ( Prime Minister of the United Kingdom ), Pierre Trudeau (former Prime Minister of Canada ), George Bush ( Vice President of the United States)
Artists: Bill Reid
Musicians: Einstürzende Neubauten, Harry Belafonte, Anne Murray, Billy Ocean, Bruce Cockburn, Miles Davis, Wynton Marsalis, Eurythmics, Julio Iglesias, Amy Grant, Loverboy, a-ha, Liberace, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Gowan, Parachute Club, Joan Baez with Don McLean, Kenny Loggins, Lou Rawls & The Fifth Dimension, Honeymoon Suite, Kim Mitchell, Johnny Cash, Depeche Mode, Joe Jackson, George Thorogood, Smokey Robinson, George Benson, CCMC, John Denver, Manhattan Transfer, The Beach Boys, Air Supply, Peter, Paul and Mary, The Temptations, René Simard, Kd long (opening for Rockin ' Ronnie Hawkins ), Peter Allen, Sheena Easton, Trooper, Bryan Adams, World Drums Concert, The Romaniacs, Shannon Gunn, Skywalk, Kent - Meridian Jazz Ensemble, Tangerine Dream, Youssou N'Dour
Comedian Bill Cosby, Bob Newhart, Bob Hope, Red Skelton, Joan Rivers, Howie Mandel, George Burns
Dance: Mikhail Baryshnikov
Directors: Norman Jewison, George Cosmatos
Scientists: Jacques Cousteau
After the exhibition
The Expo 86 counted a total of 22,111,578 visitors. Despite a deficit of 311 million CAD, the exhibition was a great success. Until today it is the biggest event ever held in British Columbia. Vancouver was able to shed his previous image as a boring backwater and ascend to a world-renowned metropolis. The tourism industry in British Columbia experienced a boom.
Some of the buildings for the exhibition have been preserved and have been transformed into tourist attractions:
- Science World - an interactive education center, opened on 2 May 1985 as the Expo Centre
- SkyTrain - driverless rail-based mass transit system, today the backbone of the public transport
- Canada Place - former Canadian pavilion is today an important convention center and serves as a dock for ships
- Plaza of Nations - Cultural and entertainment center
- BC Place Stadium - completely covered sports stadium, where the opening ceremony of the Expo 86 took place
After the end of the exhibition, many of the attractions were auctioned to interested parties from around the world. For example, is the monorail today at Alton Towers theme park in England, the "Chinese Gate" in Vancouver's Chinatown and the roller coaster " Scream Machine " in the amusement park Six Flags St. Louis.