Experience Vancouver's History: One in a Million Exhibition

This is a prime example of how exhibitions can be more accessible, not to mention creative.

A vibrant street scene from Expo 86, featuring a woman in a yellow dress holding a drink, walking with a child in a striped shirt. The background includes people enjoying the fair and colorful decorations.

Conceived in the spirit of a summer reunion, One in a Million marks the 40th anniversary of Expo 86 and looks back at a pivotal moment in Vancouver’s history: a city on display, full of optimism, spectacle, and public energy, just before monumental changes reshaped the landscape of the Lower Mainland, says Gallery 881.

A young girl wearing a white cap and colorful outfit walks in a bustling outdoor area, surrounded by other children and adults. In the background, there's a large white vehicle and several flags visible. — Michael De Courcy, One in a Million

The exhibition features over 860 4×6 photographs from Expo 86, installed as an accessible archive. Visitors can buy individual 4×6 prints directly from the wall. As photos are purchased and removed, new images will periodically take their place.

Poster for an art exhibition titled 'One in a Million' by Michael De Courcy, featuring a photograph from Expo 86, with a young person wearing a blue jacket and braided hair, set against a vibrant background. Details include dates for the opening reception on August 8, 2026, and information about purchasing prints and live T-shirt printing.

This cycle of removal and return echoes the waves of people who entered, moved through, and exited Expo 86 itself. The photographs are not only pictures of the event; they also stand in for its visitors, briefly appearing together before dispersing again – Gallery 881

A person with short hair stands in front of a window, gazing outside while a black cat sits on the windowsill looking out. The window reflects colorful lights and greenery from the interior. — Lorraine Gilbert, *Heidi and Big Science*, 1986

Following the presentation of de Courcy’s work in Surrey Art Gallery’s 40th anniversary exhibition, In the Shadow of the Pavilions: Expo 86 and Contemporary Art (see above), this exhibition at Gallery 881 presents a more intimate encounter with his photographic archive from the world’s fair.