Expo 67: A Landmark in International Unification

At a time where Canada’s population extended to little more than 20 million, the International and Universal Exposition in 1967, more commonly known as Expo 67, attracted more than 50 million visitors to its site in the then-obscure city that was Montreal. The theme of the exhibition, inspired by the French author Antoine de Saint- Exupéry, was encapsulated by the motto “Man and His World”, which established the underlying philosophy that Canada as a host, and the 62 countries participating in the fair, would be pursuing. Despite the temporary nature of Expo 67, the international vision constructed by the event remains relevant even today by first, its exploration of new technologies; second, its role as a peacemaker in a time of political hardship; and third, its embrace of a more global, unified future —one where “man” was only bounded by his “world” as opposed to his nation.