Expo 67: A Dream of Modernism

Not only was Expo 67 an opportunity for the world to be introduced to Canada, but it was an opportunity for Canadians to be introduced to the world’s diversity. Many of the young Canadians attending or working at Expo had never travelled abroad, and their exposure to different cultures was limited. Expo 67 demonstrated that “… it’s possible to build bridges” between countries. This idea continues to be relevant to Canada because as a country of immigrants, feelings of racism and xenophobia are evident. Expo brought together vastly different cultures and allowed people to explore them in an open, accepting setting, with “… no sense of racism or social status, because we were all in the same place, essentially doing the same things.” This open-mindedness influenced fairgoers so much so that many of them asked the hosts and hostesses what it would take to stay in Canada once the exhibition was over. To this day, Canada and its people are still seen by the world as welcoming, friendly, and open to people of all walks of life, representing a tolerant and progressive identity.