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NEWS REPORT
 From
its early days, a great deal has been written about Expo 67. Some journalists
and even some politicians were initially opposed to the fact that the
event would be held during Canada's centennial year. Others saw this as
yet another opportunity to celebrate and strengthen our national unity.
The appointment of the first commissioner general, Paul Bienvenu, and
of deputy commissioner general Cecil Carsley, in 1963, also caused quite
a stir. These two then stepped down, faced with an almost insurmountable
workload and because they were unable to agree on where to hold the event.
Moreover, the World Fair held in New York in 1964 and 1965 was disappointing
in many ways and led some Canadian journalists to fear the worst for the
event in Montreal. As well, the name Expo 67 did not meet with
unanimous approval as it was feared that the public would not understand
it.
The development of the site on the islands (Sainte-Hélène
and Notre-Dame) was often viewed as a slightly crazy idea and the costs
of such an undertaking put many people off. Everyone made predictions,
often pessimistic ones. Progress on the site, the number of visitors who
would visit Montreal, the effectiveness of the advertising and the availability
of sufficient accommodations for tourists were all topics of debate. The
Mayor of Montreal, Jean Drapeau, was the key figure journalists associated
most closely with Expo 67, and so he was most often the target of attacks
or congratulations, in spite of the fact that a large team was at work
on Expo.
 One
year before the official opening, on April 27, 1966, several newspapers
produced a special issue about the event. Pierre Dupuy, the commissioner
general, was even invited by the newspaper Le Devoir to submit
an editorial. Media scepticism apparently abated as soon as it became
clear that Expo would be ready on schedule, either in late 1966 or early
1967. The enthusiasm of the American press tipped the scales. The confirmed
representation of sixty or so countries; the largest opera, theatre and
dance companies; the most prestigious orchestras and the biggest names
on the national and international arts scenes no doubt contributed to
this shift in opinion.
 In
spite of a few problems, such as the shortage of accommodation, the lack
of restaurant services and the public transportation strike, most Canadian
journalists gave Expo 67 positive press during the six months it was open.
Newspapers not only reported on the tremendous success of the event, but
also on the ever-increasing number of visitors who rushed to Man and His
World. Montreal's La Presse newspaper even coined a new word for
visitors to Expo: Expovores! Very apt indeed!
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News Headlines
"In
Expo
Canada came of age"
The Globe and Mail
"In
Praise of
the World Festival"
The Winnipeg Free Press
"Expo
Runs Out Of Time Sunday - But The Smell
Of Success Will Linger On"
The Winnipeg Free Press
"Expo-an
eye-popping visit
for Ottawa students"
The Ottawa Citizen
"Expo 67"
The Calgary Herald
"Expo Triumph"
The Calgary Herald
"Colorful ceremonies bring Expo 67 to an end"
The Leader-Post, Regina
"Expo 67 was success beyond wildest dreams"
The Leader-Post, Regina
"Expo:
a season for all men"
The Edmonton Journal
"This is Expo's Great Flaw"
The Telegraph Journal, Saint John
"The
police worked,
but had it easy"
("Sans chômer, les policiers ont eu la partie belle")
La Presse, Montréal
"Expo
revealed a people with
great intellectual potential"
("L'Expo a révélé un peuple qui a d'immenses
possibilités intellectuelles")
La Presse, Montréal
"Expo
gave Canada
its confidence back"
(L'Expo 67 a redonné confiance au Canada")
Le Soleil, Québec
"A
Permanent Expo"
(L'Expo permanente")
Le Soleil, Québec
"Curtain
falls on
Montreal's love affair"
The Montreal Star
"Whose?
His? Hers?
No, Expo Is Mine!"
The Montreal Star
"Good-bye
Expo,
and Thank You"
("Adieu et Merci, Expo")
Journal de Montréal
"Expo
will have been useless if we forget its lessons!"
("L'Expo aura été inutile si nous ne profitons pas
de ses leçons!")
Journal de Montréal
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