With Expo bid, it's Edmonton's time to step up to the next level
Gary Lamphier
Edmonton Journal
Saturday, May 30, 2009
After more than a decade at the helm, Tony Franceschini stepped down as Stantec's CEO a couple of weeks ago, handing over the reins to Bob Gomes.
But Franceschini is hardly letting the grass grow under his feet.
Although he no longer has to spend three months of every year in airplanes, or guiding Stantec's army of 10,000 employees, he already has more on his plate than most younger execs who are still clawing their way up the corporate ladder.
Besides continuing to sit on Stantec's board, Franceschini serves as a director of Aecon, a major Toronto Stock Exchange-listed construction firm;Esterline Technologies, a Seattle-based aerospace and defence supplier;ZCL Composites, a local TSX-listed maker of oil and gas storage tanks;and CCI Thermal Technologies, a privately owned Edmonton manufacturer of industrial heating products.
Oops, almost forgot.Besides his corporate gigs, Franceschini also sits on the Alberta Health Services Board, as well as the local citizen advisory board for Edmonton's Expo 2017 bid.
When he's not playing director, he's out on the trails, breaking in his new mountain bike or training for this fall's New York Marathon "That's if I can shed 20 pounds,"he laughs.He's also contemplating taking ballroom dancing lessons, and perhaps some cooking classes at NAIT.
Although Italians obviously aren't the only ones with eclectic interests, Franceschini certainly exudes the "Renaissance man" label. His passions are many, and varied.
"So far I haven't had time to figure out what (retirement) is going to be like, but I think I'll adjust. A friend of mine, (ex-North American Construction co-owner) Roger Gouin, told me work is overrated, and I'll get used to it. That's probably the best advice I've received so far. Life goes on,"he says.
With Edmonton recently losing out to Gwangju, South Korea, in its effort to land the 2015 Universiade (the world summer student athletic games), all eyes are now focused on the city's chances of winning the right to host Expo 2017. Which puts Franceschini right back where he's accustomed to being--in the thick of the action.
Any Canadian city hoping to compete for the right to host the big event --which falls on Canada's 150th birthday--was required to submit a letter of intent to the feds by Friday.
The other homegrown contenders likely won't be known for a couple of weeks, but rumours have swirled for months that Montreal, Hamilton and Ottawa will make a pitch.
Late Friday afternoon, it was revealed that Calgary, too, is entering the fray.
Regardless, the competitive fun is just beginning. Formal bids must be submitted to Ottawa by November, and the feds won't choose whichCanadian bid city they'll support until next spring.
At that point, the competition goes global. The Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions, which regulates world fairs, won't anoint the 2017 host city until mid-2011.
That's still a ways off, but Franceschini already sounds pumped up about helping Edmonton put its best face forward as the Expo 2017 competition heats up.
"I've always thought that going after an international event is very good exposure for the city and the province.
"Even if we're not successful, Expo is one of those types of events that brings together the community. By going through the process and being exposed to the global community, it will give us a chance to show what this city is all about,"he says.
"Of course, right now, people could argue,'Well you're spending money in a downturn, and maybe you should spend it somewhere else.'But I think you have to step back and look at the big picture, and relatively speaking, how much investment we're talking about. And from my perspective, this is good for the city."
I couldn't agree more.
Yes, by all means, let's take care of the basics. Those potholes really do need to be filled. And yes, city budgets are already being squeezed, as the recession grinds on. And it's true, there are many other pressing needs in Edmonton, from affordable housing to more recreational facilities to expanding the LRT.
I get that. Honestly I do.
But if Edmonton wants to escape from Calgary's shadow, and elevate its profile on a national and international level, so it's no longer viewed as some kind of remote, frigid, red-neck hick town, then it has to go to another level.
If Edmonton really aims to be a city that's vibrant and attractive, that retains its smart young graduates, that draws professionals who could live virtually anywhere on the planet, then it can't just talk about it. It has to think bigger, and aspire to be more.
Montreal has already had Expo 67. Vancouver hosted Expo 86. Calgary had the 1988 Winter Olympics. All of these cities blossomed and matured. Vancouver's dream of hosting Expo 86 was born amid one of the worst economic downturns in B.C.'shistory. Calgary's ambitions to host the Winter Olympics were also born during a period of economic misery.
Today, Edmonton is also struggling to emerge from the latest economic downturn. Yet, thanks to the proximity of the oilsands, the city's economic future is bright.
Edmonton, your time is at hand. When Canada celebrates its 150th birthday in eight years' time, the biggest party of all could be right here.
© The Edmonton Journal 2009
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