Experience
The EXPO
Experience
As you exit the LRT at the South Campus stop, you catch the
sound of soaring Latin music and the smell of Asian spices. A
solar-powered message board flashes the day's events and shows a
running total of how much energy the EXPO site has contributed to
Alberta's power grid since the event began. You enter the site. To
your right, you see the flags of close to 100 nations stretching
for blocks outside the international pavilions. The crowd is large,
but it doesn't feel crowded as people flow with an unmistakable
energy. Your eyes are drawn over to the left, where solar-powered
robots entertain a cluster of children. You stroll towards the
plaza where music is playing, and are joined by people emerging
from a talk on sustainable gardening techniques. The walls of
EXPO's buildings are alive with light patterns and visual stories.
Enticing as the dancers on stage seem, you take a detour into one
of the international pavilions. It's inspiring to hear how India is
reshaping itself for the future while building on traditions that
are thousands of years old. Outside the pavilion, you buy an ear of
roasted Taber corn, and decide to take a walk. A short distance
from the site, you turn onto a beautiful nature path that takes you
to the Capital Region River Valley Park. You meet other visitors
from all over the world - and with your new friends discover a
perfect spot for conversation. With night now on the way, you make
your way back to the EXPO grounds. People are gathering in the
central square, where African drummers and streaming projections
move gracefully through and above the crowds. The show builds to a
tremendous climax of light, music, and cheering. You stroll with
the other patrons towards the waiting trains, reflecting on the
power of human ingenuity.
Edmonton: The Ideal
Host City
Taking a day off from EXPO, you set off to explore the many
other attractions of Edmonton. Of course, you've heard of the mall,
and you can hardly skip a visit. After getting through the water
park and watching the figure skaters at the ice rink, you realize
that you've stopped thinking of it as a mall. You now see a small
and wonderful city in itself. You linger for lunch on Bourbon
Street, and then head back towards downtown. On the way you see
signs for an exciting new exhibit at Edmonton's science centre,
where you wander through a massive reproduction of the human
bloodstream, blasting viruses - if only school had been like this!
You get back downtown in time for dinner, and decide to check out a
delightful Indian restaurant you stumble upon - although the steak
house had been tempting. You've heard that there's a jazz festival
going on. Although there are a lot of great events right downtown,
what's caught your eye is a quartet over at the Yardbird Suite, in
Old Strathcona. The ensemble is superb, and it's late when you step
out into the warm night. Tomorrow's return to the EXPO site might
not be quite so early a start.
Alberta: A Province
That Has It All
A weekend away from the festivities at EXPO might be exactly the
right way to wrap up your Alberta adventure. You drive east. Just
outside Edmonton is Elk Island Park where you see herds of bison in
their native habitat. Continuing south, you hike the "badlands" and
take in one of the world's largest displays of dinosaurs at the
Royal Tyrrell Museum. From there, your road lies west. You drive
through Calgary, home of the Stampede and a gleaming city of the
prairies, and onwards into the mountains. You've been savouring a
round at the renowned Banff Springs golf course. It's easy to see
the hand of legendary designer Stanley Thompson in this spectacular
course. You drive into Jasper, the nation's largest mountain park,
and past the Athabasca glacier where the sun splashes dazzlingly
down from five spectacular peaks. You pause to watch the sun set
over the dancing waters of Sunwapta Falls before your classic
Alberta steak dinner. You feel you've earned your rest as your head
sinks into the pillow. The sun rises over Mount Tekarra, drawing
you back to the road. The journey home to Edmonton winds through
the spectacular Rockies, aspen parkland and prairie. You return in
time for dinner and a show at EXPO.
Celebrate
Canada's 150th Year
You've been enjoying two days of a year-long celebration, as
every corner of Edmonton opens up to visitors − with
breakfasts, open-air concerts, and junior soccer tournaments.
You've taken in a retrospective of Canadian movies, a Group of
Seven exhibit at the Art Gallery of Alberta, and a gathering of
Aboriginal peoples from across Canada in West Rossdale. Today is
July 1st, Canada's 150th anniversary. The streets are packed with
visitors from across Canada and the world. Alberta's Legislature
Building is a centre of activity for the celebration. Dozens of red
and white hot air balloons drift over the EXPO site as you arrive.
Booths are serving signature dishes from every province and
territory. Screens across the site offer glimpses of celebrations
going on in cities across Canada, while patrons with
wireless-enabled video cameras send their own coverage out to the
world via the EXPO site. Costumed performers representing 100 top
Canadians from history are circulating in the crowds. You have the
unexpected pleasure of hearing Sir John A. MacDonald sing a duet
with Céline Dion. At noon, a press conference announces the winner
of the Canada Conservation Challenge - the city that, over the past
12 months, has decreased its energy consumption the most. A who's
who of Canadian music and family entertainers rotate through EXPO's
stages, culminating in a glorious multimedia celebration of
Canada's past, present and future.
What Visitors Will
Take Away from EXPO 2017
Edmonton will be in its best form. The river valley will be
exploding with nature and colour. Downtown will be vibrant and
Whyte Avenue will be packed with pedestrians heading to great
restaurants. West Rossdale will enhance visitors' riverfront
experience. Edmonton is a famously participatory city. Visitors
will be amazed by how the entire city seems to have become an
extended EXPO 2017 site. EXPO will be a cavalcade of knowledge and
innovation, with the world's greatest minds predicting where the
world is heading in terms of energy and sustainability. Every
visitor to EXPO 2017 will leave transformed, exhilarated and
replenished. Ready to move forward in the world. Quietly amazed by
Edmonton's ability to so perfectly combine what is best about all
of us: our imagination and the pleasure we derive from one
another's company.
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