Vancouver - Canadian Pacific is the first private corporation to announce its participation in the 1986 World Exposition on Transportation Expo 86.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frederick S. Burbidge made the announcement here on 18 May 1983 at a flag-raising ceremony which included about 60 people. In attendance were Expo 86 officials, the Provincial Minister of Tourism, and the Mayor of Vancouver.

"Canadian Pacific has played an important role in the development of the country and the province," Mr. Burbidge said. "We are a major presence here today and it is fitting that we should be a major presence at Expo 86. I can assure you that we intend to be exactly that.

"The theme of Expo 86, Man in Motion, symbolizes transportation and the role it plays in our interdependent world. It symbolizes also the history and future of both Vancouver and Canadian Pacific."

Jim Pattison, a prominent Vancouver businessman and chairman of Expo 86 board of directors, said he was delighted and most grateful for the company's participation.

"We expect that some 16 million people will visit the grounds during the five months of Expo," he said, adding that the company's pavilion would be one of the major points of interest at the fair.

Vancouver's Mayor Michael Harcourt also expressed his appreciation of Canadian Pacific's involvement. "I learned the meaning of hard work," the mayor said, "thanks to the eight years I spent with the CPR as a dining car waiter.

"During that time I had an opportunity to see the country and the impact that CP Rail has had on Canada. Expo 86 will revitalize our great country. Thanks and congratulations to Canadian Pacific on being the flagship corporation to participate."

Mr. Burbidge presented Expo Commissioner-General Patrick Reid with a replica of a CP Rail station clock to time the countdown between the ceremony and the exposition's opening day. On handing over the clock, Mr. Burbidge said:  "There are now 1,078 days and 10 hours to the opening date."

B.C. Tourism Expo 86 Minister Claude Richmond pointed out the strong ties between Expo 86 and Canadian Pacific. "No other Canadian company has such strong historical links to Expo's transportation theme. And no other company has played such an important role in the historical development of the three hosts of Expo 86, Canada, British Columbia, and Vancouver," he said.

"The Expo site itself was once railway yards and warehouses. And the year 1986 was chosen for Expo 86 to celebrate not only Vancouver's centennary but also the centennial of Canadian Pacific's first scheduled trans-continental train service to the west coast. Canadian Pacific's participation will be an integral part of Expo 86," he added.