Ottawa Expo 2017

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

I don't disagree with you about the mayor's inexperience. But sometimes isn't a vision alone just as important?

Not in today's world. Money, selfishness and vote-buying rules above anything else.

So sad...

You know the saying "where there's a will there's a way" ... As a lifelong Ottawa resident it is incredibly discouraging and depressing to see project after project and dream after dream flushed down the drain because it is considered too frivolous/elitist/expensive/impractical. I've seen the aquarium plans dashed (twice). My friend's father was one of the architects involved in the design of the amazing original aquarium in the 1980s which would have been built in Lebreton Blats. The botanical garden plans have been discarded numerous times. A zoo. A concert hall. Bridges. Subway. Science & tech Museum. The portrait gallery. A new library. All these subjects have been discussed and proposed for the last 20 -25 years. The list goes on...

I know. There have been tonnes of projects that have been scrapped due to lack of vision, but councillors and city staff are not the only ones to blame. You can also blame the general public and the various levels of government.

A city is so much more than social housing and sewer maintenance. So many people I know go to Montreal or Toronto for their regular fix of culture, entertainment, dining and shopping. This should not be necessary in a city of over 1 million and a national capital to boot!

I completely agree and I find it sad because Ottawa and Gatineau have so much potential.

Well, I've digressed. What I was trying to say is that if councillors shared at least part of the mayor's vision, they could sit down together to figure out how this vision could be attained. I just can't see this happening with the current group of people in office. They don't seem to see ahead. Case in point: crack pipes and needles, but no treatment centre. HELLO???

Well, I can't argue with you there!

City council needs to stop thinking about their wards and start thinking about the city as a whole.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

When is the last day to submit a proposal?

I have no idea...

If we want Expo 2017, that needs to be the focus of the city. Instead, for the next 3 years, we will be spending all our time on cost cutting. The two work at cross purposes as Expo will require us to spend money. We will never see Expo in Ottawa. Already, there has been virtually no talk about it since the mayor brought it up in the summer. Just like the mayor's task force on Transportation. Just another dead issue.

Sad, but true.

However, we could change things if we get the talk moving, show what's happening in Zaragoza, start petitions, send letters to our councillors, etc.

It's possible but there needs to be pressure from the public.

[movebyleap]

Unfortunately these articles are all dated August 2007 and two of them are opinion pieces. So, though interesting, not very official..YET

[lrt's friend]

Ottawa is so dependent on the feds. We don't have a large private sector for the size of the city. As a consequence, party polictics play a big part of whether major Ottawa projects take place or not. Unfortunately, when the Conservatives have been in power, Ottawa often suffers. Look at our history. The first beautification efforts came as result of Sir Wilfrid Laurier. Then William Lyon MacKenzie-King was the push behind the Greber Plan. Then Trudeau's regime gave us the National Art Gallery, the Museum of Civilization and the replacement of the unsightly pulp mill opposite from Parliament Hill. Jean Chretien gave us the new War Museum. What have the current Conservatives done? Killed LRT and cancelled the Portrait Gallery at a time when the feds are rolling in cash.

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by d_jeffrey

When is the last day to submit a proposal?

From the Bureau International des Expositions (a surprisingly tacky website, given its stature):

The Bureau will not recognise as a show of intention to organise a Registered Exhibition unless the request is presented:

- maximum of nine years (9 years) and a minimum of six years (6 years) before the chosen date for the opening of the Exhibition (Registered Exhibitions)
- maximum of six years (6 years) and a minimum of five years (5 years) before the chosen date for the opening of the Exhibition (Recognised Exhibitions).

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

So in other words, we have until 2011 to come up with a truly stellar proposal?

[Kitchissippi]

Originally Posted by Jamaican-Phoenix

So in other words, we have until 2011 to come up with a truly stellar proposal?

Actually, there is already a bit of a problem if you want to hold a true World's Fair in 2017. These are only allowed every 5 years and the next one is in Shanghai 2010. Milan is going really strong for its bid for 2015 and is way ahead of the game. The best hope for 2017 is a minor international expo, one in which the host country has to provide exhibition space and participating nations do not build individual pavilions. These recognized international expositions are allowed anytime once in between true World's Fairs.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

Actually, there is already a bit of a problem if you want to hold a true World's Fair in 2017. These are only allowed every 5 years and the next one is in Shanghai 2010. Milan is going really strong for its bid for 2015 and is way ahead of the game. The best hope for 2017 is a minor international expo, one in which the host country has to provide exhibition space and participating nations do not build individual pavilions. These recognized international expositions are allowed anytime once in between true World's Fairs.

Yes, I am aware of that, but how is that a problem?

Most cities Ottawa's size(and Zaragoza) would host a recognized Expo. It seems to be working for Zaragoza; why couldn't it work for Ottawa?

[Kitchissippi]

You are missing the semantics of my post. I said there is a problem if you want to hold a true World's Fair ("Registered Exhibition") because of the strong bids for 2015 by Milan and Izmir and these are only allowed every 5 years. Yes, Ottawa could bid for a "Recognized Exhibition" for 2017.

[Jamaican-Phoenix]

Originally Posted by Kitchissippi

You are missing the semantics of my post. I said there is a problem if you want to hold a true World's Fair ("Registered Exhibition") because of the strong bids for 2015 by Milan and Izmir and these are only allowed every 5 years. Yes, Ottawa could bid for a "Recognized Exhibition" for 2017.

I understood what you meant, but I'm saying that to tie into Canada's 150th, Ottawa should host a recognized Exhibition. Look at the good it's doing for Zaragoza, adn it's smaller than us!

We would never be able to host a Registered Expo; we just do not have the capacity, nor will the City ever approve of such a money-drain as a Registered Expo.

Ottawa would never stand a chance against the big cities who bid for Registered Expos, but the Recognized Expo would be a perfect fit for the city and since it will Canada's 150th, that will help give us an edge over other cities like Hamilton and Edmonton.

[Aylmer]

I just calculated the perimeter:
Chaudière Islands: 5,5 thousand Meters
Bayview Yards: 4,5 thousand Meters

Which?