Expo 2017

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, and this time has now passed with only two candidates having applied: Liege and Astana. The winning candidate will therefore be decided by the BIE in December 2012 in Paris.

Candidate Cities

The following cities have bid to host Expo 2017:

City	Country
Astana	Kazakhstan
Liège	Belgium

Cities that did not actually bid

The following cities had considered bidding to host Expo 2017:

City	Country	Status	Notes
Newcastle, New South Wales	Australia	Did not bid
Belgrade	Serbia	Did not bid
Lille	France	Did not bid
Stavanger	Norway	Did not bid
Sydney	Australia	Did not bid	The NSW government had been urged to bid for the 2017 International Expo.[citation needed]
Salamanca	Salamanca, Spain	Did not bid

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 67 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^{[citation needed]}.

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.

Canadian Heritage decision

In the spring of 2009, the department of Canadian Heritage, 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.

See also

• Expo 17
• Edmonton EXPO 2017

External links

• Liège 2017
• Expo2017 Astana-Kazakhstan
• ExpoBids.com
• Expo 17 (Canada)
• Expo 2017 (Canada)
• Edmonton Expo 2017
• Société du Havre de Montréal (Canada)