Nan-b and Philippe II de Gaspé Beaubien, at the heart of Expo 67’s 50th anniversary celebrations

On April 25, Montreal will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Expo 67, the largest World Fair of all time. For the occasion, Montreal’s Place des Arts will host the the world premiere screening of the documentary Expo 67 Mission impossible, which showcases among other things the leading roles played by Mr. and Mrs. De Gaspé Beaubien, who will be taking part in the celebrations.

Celebrating the memory of Expo 67

This tremendous event attracted almost 55 million visitors to Montreal and left its mark on all of Canada while showcasing the know-how, can-do spirit and creative energy of Quebecers. This 50th anniversary is a chance to remember how Expo 67 introduced Quebec to the world and a whole new universe of future possibilities.

With “Man and his World” as its theme, Expo 67 was an opportunity to spread a message of openness and inclusion. According to Mr. de Gaspé Beaubien, “It was one of the most unifying events ever held in Quebec.” Organized by Productions de la Ruelle and the Society for the Celebrations of Montreal’s 375th Anniversary, the 50th anniversary celebration of Expo 67 is an opportunity to (re)experience Expo 67 and inspire a new generation.

The film Expo 67 Mission impossible takes a fresh look at the story of Expo 67 through personal accounts and a wealth of previously unseen archival material. Then in his thirties, the “Mayor of Expo 67” Philippe II de Gaspé Beaubien was its director of operations. Despite the succession of technical and political hurdles organizers faced, the Expo 67 team managed to create an island (Île Notre-Dame) in the middle of the river and build a metro line, a road network, 27 bridges, and 847 buildings—all in under three and a half years!

“You can achieve extraordinary things if you’re committed and enthusiastic, but you have to believe in yourself and have the courage to step outside your comfort zone,” said Mr. de Gaspé Beaubien. “Expo 67 changed attitudes and the way Quebecers saw themselves. The event gave the province a tremendous boost of confidence—we realized that we were capable of achieving great things.”

As one of the youngest members of the organizing team, Mr. de Gaspé Beaubien helped instil Expo 67 with its own unique atmosphere and identity. For him, the event marked the beginning of a long history of community engagement—a commitment that eventually led to the creation of the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation.

About the de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation

The de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation is a multigenerational family foundation dedicated to helping people, family businesses and organizations become agents for positive and lasting change in their communities. The foundation focuses its efforts and resources on supporting initiatives that tie in with three pillars that underpin its core values: education, entrepreneurship, and the environment.

Source: de Gaspé Beaubien Foundation

Further information: Diep Truong; diep@exergue.ca; 514-524-7348