By Marcello Cabezas, Culture & Experience Producer & Expo Next Co-Chair
It’s pretty awesome being a Canadian these days, eh? The world has taken to us in a very warm way. As our Prime Minister and current government has told and shown us, Canada is back.
So what does this mean? To you? To your family? And most importantly, why should you care? History shows living the values of what it is to be Canadian makes your life, your families’ lives, and the lives of other Canadians simply better. We are talking about Canadian values: diversity and inclusiveness, celebrating and inspiring youth to be leaders today, respecting our treasured environment, and embracing a new role for Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Canadians in the modern world.
Canadian values will make the world a better place
These values are not only relevant to a better Canada. If adopted globally, this thinking and behaviour would lead to a better world.
So how does Canada hosting an Expo play into all of this? Well, imagine up to 169 diverse nations gathering in one place around one theme to inspire activity, cross pollination of ideas, and commitment to making the world a better, more sustainable place. Layer in millions upon millions of people from around the world gathering to contribute to this thinking and learning along the way.
Well, that place, that epicentre, that home of all things leading to a brighter progressive world could be Canada in 2025. Canada would have a world stage to share all things we believe in and represent. Yes, the economic impact and infrastructure legacy are all sound arguments to host an Expo (for more information, read “Greater Toronto’s economic future should include Expo 2025: A world’s fair would transform the region by attracting investment, building infrastructure and creating jobs”).
Diversity & inclusion will be a driving force of Expo 2025
Toronto enjoys the greatest diversity of races, creeds, and cultures living in relative harmony of any place on the planet. Toronto and Canada are social miracles. When we involve diverse skills, experiences, and backgrounds, we can achieve that which is beyond the limits of the individual. That is our greatest power. Diversity isn’t just sound social policy. Diversity is the engine of innovation.
Expo 2025 will support efforts toward National Reconciliation of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Canadians and serve as an effective platform for a new era of nation‐to‐nation relations. We will reinforce our commitments to implementing the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
Expo 2025 will inspire, empower, and activate a new generation of young people. It will utilize the energy and intelligence of young people, give them the opportunity to collaborate, develop ideas, and build something from the ground up. Expo 2025 will have a forward‐looking youth and jobs‐training focus and strategy.
We are talking about igniting a movement.
What we are talking about is igniting a movement. That is for the world to feel, to see, to live Canadian opportunity. Would you like to live in a world where Canada leads on the world stage for our progressive values, social inclusion, innovative technologies, and our commitment to environmental sustainability? We would. And we believe Canadians would as well. All Canadians.
Let’s lead the world in what we do best. An Expo would further our mission to make the world a better place. Canadians know how to be honourable human beings. Let’s build on our reputation for diplomacy and building bridges. One Canadian value at a time.
As the Prime Minister asked in a recent speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos: “If you are looking for a country that has the diversity, the resilience, the positivity and the confidence …there has never been a better time to look to Canada.”
Let’s rally around what we do best.