Mississauga, ON, November 27, 2019— Monday, the groundbreaking ceremony for the Canada Pavilion was held at the Expo 2020 grounds in Dubai. As the selected contractor to design, build, and maintain, EllisDon has
mobilized on-site and is set to begin construction on the national pavilion.Expo 2020 Dubai is an opportunity to present Canada as a destination of choice to visit, study, invest, do business and immigrate. Canada’s theme, 'The Future in Mind', will focus on Canadian leadership in key sectors such as advanced technologies, aerospace, artificial intelligence, tourism and education, as well as to promote Canadian values like gender equality and sustainable practices.

"As a world leader in delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure, and as champions of sustainability, diversity and equality, EllisDon is proud to represent Canada in designing, building and operating our national pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai," says Jody Beck, CSO & Sr. Vice-President Services, EllisDon. "We are honoured to have been entrusted with this important project and look forward to delivering a pavilion of which all Canadians can be proud."

Participating in Expo 2020 Dubai aligns with Canada’s trade diversification strategy, helping Canadian exporters and investors access more opportunities around the globe. Expo 2020 will help expand on the existing, strong economic and cultural ties between Canada and the UAE and, more broadly, the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (MENASA) region."We are extremely excited to break ground on the Canadian Pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai," says Wissam Ayoub, Vice-President MIddle-East, EllisDon. "As a Canadian company with almost 70 years of history, 15 years of which in the UAE, we are proud to be delivering this iconic facility showcasing what Canada has to offer. This is a testimony to our commitment to the UAE and the region as a whole."

With an anticipated 25 million visits, Expo 2020 Dubai will be a platform to showcase Canadian innovation and to promote new business opportunities for Canadian companies and attract international investment in Canada, which in turn will create jobs for the middle class.To deliver the pavilion and public presentation space, EllisDon is working with consortium members Moriyama & Teshima Architects, Lord Cultural Resources, Hatch, Kubik, Thornton Tomasetti, NGX and Cisco.Expo 2020 Dubai is taking place from October 20, 2020, to April 10, 2021 under the theme "Connecting Minds, Creating the Future"