On a recent episode of the Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend podcast, host Conan O’Brien chatted with writer Greg Daniels about Expo 86 in Vancouver. Daniels, famous for shows like The Office and Parks and Recreation, humorously mixed up the year, calling it Expo 87.
O’Brien reminisced about how much fun they had together, reflecting on a time when they both noticed that Princess Diana and Prince Charles had visited Vancouver for the event. Daniels expressed how they felt they would regret missing Expo 86. “We convinced ourselves we’d regret it for life!” he said. O’Brien agreed, still feeling the same way today.
Traveling to Vancouver turned into an adventure. They flew to Seattle, rented a car, and drove north. But when they finally arrived at Expo 86, they found it was over. Instead of the expo, they stumbled upon a Canadian TV series called The Beachcombers. This show, which aired from the 1970s to the 1990s, centered on a log salvager in British Columbia.
Intrigued, they set out on a wild quest to meet one of the actors from the show. They took a fishing boat across the coast to Gibsons, convincing the captain to speed up. Once there, they separated and knocked on doors until they finally met the actor. “We shook his hand, and he had no idea what was happening,” O’Brien recounted.
Although they missed the expo, their story shows that sometimes the best parts of a journey happen unexpectedly. It’s not always about the destination—sometimes, it’s all about the memories you create along the way.
In the world of nostalgia, this story resonates. Public interest in past events like Expo 86 has surged recently, with many sharing memories on social media. Hashtags like #Expo86 are trending, showing how events can leave lasting impressions, even decades later.
To dive deeper into Vancouver’s rich history, check out this report on its cultural events.
