[SteelTown]

Hamilton Expo 2017 -- 'a very intriguing idea'

By Paul Morse
The Hamilton Spectator
(Mar 24, 2007)
Think Hamilton Expo '17.

That's the message the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce has for Mayor Fred Eisenberger and council.

The chamber has voted to recommend the city spend $200,000 to look at launching a bid for International World Expo 2017.

"It would be a city-transforming event," said chamber CEO John Dolbec yesterday.

"I was in Montreal during Expo 67, and that was a really big deal.

"It radically transformed Montreal from a regional centre into a cosmopolitan centre."

The chamber has already talked with the mayor about a World Fair bid, and plans a formal presentation to council in the next 30 days.

The idea has gained momentum under local lawyer and promoter Jasper Kujavsky, who believes Hamilton is in the right place at the right time to have a legitimate shot at landing the event.

"The total cost for a fair would be around $750 million," Kujavsky said.

Hamilton's west harbour would be a perfect location for it, he said -- specifically the coveted CN Rail marshalling yards next to Bayfront Park.

"The key to Expo 2017 is that it will be Canada's 150th birthday. And Toronto blew its bid for the universal expo in 2015."

Kujavsky has been pitching Hamilton Expo 2017 to top city officials over the past month.

"It's a very intriguing idea, that's for sure, and it could have great benefit," Eisenberger said recently.

Tourism Hamilton has launched a high-level bid assessment and will report to the mayor.

Tourism board executive director David Adames said the study will look at other host city bids, economic spinoff and legacy infrastructure, including how a World Fair might involve revitalization of the city's west harbour lands.

But Adames thinks the Paris-based Bureau International des Exposition (BIE) is still waiting see if Toronto tries to land Expo 2020.

"If you think globally, Toronto, with 3.2 million people, they'd think ... that's a mid-sized city."

Adames also wonders if an expo bid would end up trumping other funding request priorities such as money to clean up Randle Reef.

Eisenberger thinks the city may be "a little gun-shy" about going after big events given its losing track record trying to land the Commonwealth Games.

"But we do have to look. Quite often these events leave a legacy of infrastructure that would be very valuable."

Kujavsky believes the BIE is keen to bring an expo back to North America, which hasn't seen one since Vancouver's in 1989.

http://www.hamiltonspectator.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=hamilton/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1174713390035&call_pageid=1020420665036&col=1014656511815

[b13]

is it me or is Hamilton trying to bid for every event possible?

[adam-machiavelli]

World Expo is on its way out. It's a waste to bid for it.

[SteelTown]

is it me or is Hamilton trying to bid for every event possible?

Yes, until the City finally wins a bid lol. Plus the city has a policy to support as much international events to promote Hamilton to the world, the city needs to shine out of the our neighbour to the north of us.

[DC83]

I agree 110% with the Commonwealth Games, but this idea doesn't seem like a good one to me.

I don't think World's Fairs have as much interest as they once did, thanks in part to the Internet. People can find out anything they want about a particular location with the touch of a button... or two (THANKS Wikipedia!)

And as much as I LOVE this city, Hamilton isn't an attraction to people want to see. They don't care about waterfalls, nature trails and a beautiful harbour... sadly.

IMO, this is a bad idea... stick with the 2018 Commonwealth Games Bid, May'r Fred! :D

[SteelTown]

Even if it doesn't get a lot of worldwide attention it'll still get federal and provincial money to redevelop the waterfront.

It'll no doubt get massive attention nationwide as it'll be Canada's 150th birthday at the same time. It seems easier to sell Hamilton to the world but really Canadians themselves don't have a good opinion of Hamilton, or has a lack of understanding Hamilton. Maybe we should work to gain national exposure.

[the dude]

didn't knoxville host the world's fair? need i say more? i don't think so. the city should rethink this before spending more and more and more of our tax $$$$ on stupidness!! the world cycling championships worked well. let's stick to that sort of event and stay away from major expenditures. oh ya, and comparing what happened in montreal to what could happen here in 2017 is pretty ridiculous. it was a different world in '67...not that i'd know.

[MonkeyRonin]

Considering the government wouldn't fund an Expo in Toronto...what makes you think they'll do so for Hamilton?

[the dude]

as an addendum to what i said earlier, i like the ambition that the city's been showing lately. it's definitely a good thing. i just happen to dislike this particular idea.

[SteelTown]

I believe the problem with Toronto was its bid was billions. Hamilton is millions. Was too high for the province to bail out if over budget, they wanted Ottawa to be the bail person. Couldn't make out a deal and well Toronto is out of the picture.

Dude how do you suggest Hamilton get millions to redevelop its waterfront? Any ideas? Eisenberger seems quite fond of redeveloping the CN land, one of his big election promises. Guess we now know how he intends to transform the waterfront.

[SteelTown]

Considering the government wouldn't fund an Expo in Toronto...what makes you think they'll do so for Hamilton?

The government did help to fund but like I said Harper and Dalton couldn't work out a deal if the budget ran over budget who would pick up the tab, Dalton thinking Ottawa with record surplus should.

[the dude]

if they can transform the waterfront without leaving the taxpayer to foot the bill then ok but that doesn't seem to happen very often. my feeling is that the city can't afford these sorts of extravagances. i WOULD support a massive outlay for lrt but that's a different situation.

i can't believe the west harbour is still in such horrible condition. to me it's the most valuable piece of land in the city. it boggles...

[SteelTown]

Hamilton group bids for World Expo 2017

February 04, 2008
Nicole Macintyre
The Hamilton Spectator

The push to bid for a world fair in Hamilton is back.

A local consulting group is asking the city for $50,000 to lay the groundwork for competing for International World Expo 2017.

Lawyer Jasper Kujavsky, who first promoted the idea a year ago, said the campaign has been renewed with the prospect of Hamilton being part of a southern Ontario bid for the Pan-Am games in 2015.

"They go together perfectly," he said, noting the bids would require similar investment in infrastructure.

It's believed Canada's chances of winning the Expo in 2017 will be increased because it's also the country's 150th birthday. Kujavsky said interest in bidding for the games is popping up in several Canadian cities, including Edmonton and Montreal.

"If you want to win you have to prove you're serious and get ahead of the curve," he said, urging Hamilton to move quickly.

"I think it would be the city transforming event."

The last Canadian expo was in 1989 in Vancouver.

The idea of bidding for the fair was first floated last March with the support of the Hamilton Chamber of Commerce. At the time, the mayor said he'd be interested in at least looking at the idea and the city's tourism staff agree to complete a high-level assessment.

Shortly after, Halifax pulled out of the bidding for the Commonwealth Games. When staff reported to council about Hamilton's chances of re-entering competition, council sent a strong message the city needed a break because of bid fatigue.

Executive director Tourism Hamilton David Adames said interest in the Expo bid was put on the back burner, but has been renewed by the funding request from Lord Cultural Resources. The local firm wants six months to evaluate the city's readiness for hosting an international event.

Adames said he has a meeting scheduled this week to discuss the proposal, which is expected to be raised at a planning meeting tomorrow. With council preparing its new strategic plan and economic development strategy, Adames said it's a good time for council to decide if it wants to continue bidding for international events.

"I think we do need to look at the opportunity," said Adames, noting the city has learned from previous bids.

Hamilton has lost two attempts to host the Commonwealth games. The last bid cost $425,000. A Toronto-Hamilton-Golden Horseshoe bid for the Pan -Am games is also gaining momentum.

Kujavsky, who sees the west harbour as a prime location for the fair, said the city can't be deterred by past failures.

"Many cities (experience) disappointment before realizing their potential and their goals."

[DC83]

I'm not a big fan of the whole bidding for events that seem to be out of our league, however with all the world events happening (or possibly happening) in Canada over the next several years, I guess Hamilton COULD be a contender!

Vancouver 2010 & a possible Pan-AM 2015 would be a good set-up for the World's Fair of 2017 as Canada would be in the International Spotlight!

If we do win the bid, they had BETTER optimize on the Public Transit front much like Montréal did for '67... minus the mass demos, etc.

If the Montréal Metro was the legacy of Expo '67, let's hope Hamilton Light Rail ours!!!

[SteelTown]

You never know unless you throw in a bid and see if you win or not. I say give it a try.

Expo would probably have the most for transformation for Hamilton instead of Commonwealth or Pan Ams Game. Before Vancouver's Expo it was just some lumberjack city lol.

[fastcarsfreedom]

Expo in Vancouver was in 1986. Is it so hard for these staff writers to do some research?

[raisethehammer]

I have an Expo 86 hat.
I don't really pay attention to this stuff anymore. We'll never win one.

[coalminecanary]

Expo in Vancouver was in 1986. Is it so hard for these staff writers to do some research?

haha -- I was just wondering how Vancouver managed to land a second expo 3 years after '86 ;-)

[DC83]

You never know unless you throw in a bid and see if you win or not. I say give it a try.

Expo would probably have the most for transformation for Hamilton instead of Commonwealth or Pan Ams Game. Before Vancouver's Expo it was just some lumberjack city lol.

well to be fair, the False Creek (where the event was held) was a lumber yard... not the entire city. We dont' want to upset the BC forumers that read our threads ;)

[SteelTown]

Consulting Group Makes World Expo Pitch

HAMILTON (AM900 CHML) - Hamilton politicians are taking it slow, as they decide whether to make a bid for the 2017 World's Fair.

The economic development committee has decided to hold off on committing any money towards the effort until it gets a better handle on the costs involved, as well as the city's chances of success.

Councillor Brian McHattie is still feeling the sting, following two unsuccessful bids for the Commonwealth Games.

He notes that there are no guarantees, because of the politics and "funny business" that goes on.

A local consulting group which is pitching the bid, has told City Councillors that it believes a Canadian city will get the 2017 World Expo. It feels the lands along Hamilton's west harbour would be the right location.

[SteelTown]

Mayor off to Spain to check out World's Fair
Politicians consider expo's benefits; spend $8,000 on junket

By Kevin Werner

Hamilton politicians are looking to get two global events for the price of one.

Soon after they agreed to pursue a bid to land the 2015 Pan American Games, councillors approved spending $8,000 to send Mayor Fred Eisenberger, and David Adames, executive director of Tourism Hamilton to Zaragoza, Spain to check out how the country is hosting its World's Fair event this year.

"We should seize the moment," said Dundas councillor Russ Powers.

Mr. Adames had suggested councillors defer a decision to bid on the 2017 International Expo until 2009 after Hamilton has completed its bid process for the Pan American games. But most councillors said why not initiate both bids at the same time. Hamilton Mountain councillor Tom Jackson introduced the motion to send the mayor to Spain this summer.

Jasper Kujavsky, who tried to lure the Canadian Music Hall of Fame to Hamilton is partnering with Hamilton native Barry Lord, president of Lord Cultural Resources, to encourage the city to bid to host a World's Fair event.

Mr. Kujavsky even suggested Hamilton's World's Fair bid could piggyback onto a possible city-backed bid to host the Pan Am Games in 2015.

One of the draws for Hamilton to host the event is that by 2017, it will help Canada celebrate its 150th birthday.

The last World's Fair in Canada was held in Vancouver, B.C. in 1986. Proponents of the event said the event transformed the city's crumbling waterfront into an iconic tourist destination.

A Hamilton World's Fair would be categorized as a secondary event, and therefore affordable for the city. Vancouver's fair was classified as an 'A' event.

A prime location for the event would be on Hamilton's waterfront, on the Canadian National Railways land.

Mr. Lord invited councillors during his presentation in January to visit Spain and see first hand how the event is organized.

Other cities that have hosted the event include Hanover, Germany in 2000, Brisbane, Australia in 1988.

The next World's Fair is set for 2010 in Shanghai, China, with Yoesu, Korea hosting another one in 2012. Milan, Italy and Ismir, Turkey are bidding for the 2015 event.

Mr. Lord said cities reap economic and infrastructure benefits by hosting the event. The World's Fair is the third largest event in the terms of economic and cultural impact on a country behind the World Cup and the Olympics, said Mr. Kujavsky.

Private interests in Montreal, as well as Edmonton and Ottawa have expressed an interest in the event.

Stoney Creek councillor Brad Clark said to send politicians to Spain, then report back to the committee in the fall is too long a process. While other municipalities, such as Edmonton are already "out front" in putting a bid together, Hamilton will be a year behind when it gets organized.

"If we want to be competitive, it would be nice to have more information now," he said.