Waterfront Toronto - Newsroom

you still have time to vote in contest to name Toronto’s newest waterfront park

Andrea — Wed, 15 May 2013 14:31:19 +0000

TORONTO – Voting to select the name of Toronto’s newest waterfront park, currently known as Don River Park, will continue until 11:59 pm on Friday, May 17, 2013. Of more than 440 suggestions made by the public, participants can select from a list of five final names.

Vote at www.thegridto.com/name-that-park to select your favourite from the list of names below:

Ataratiri Park: Ataratiri (pronounced “a-tar-a-TEER-y”) is a Huron-Wendat word meaning “supported by clay.” That’s fitting, because the park is built on top of a clay flood protection landform that will prevent downtown Toronto from flooding during a major storm event in the Don Watershed. If Ataratiri sounds familiar, that’s because it was also the name for a previous plan for the area.
Corktown Common: “Corktown” for the larger neighbourhood the park will form a new part of—a neighbourhood named to honour the Irish workers who settled there after their country’s famine—and “Common” because it will belong to everyone. Corktown Common would be the second of two recent east-end parks to share the “Common” designation: nearby Sherbourne Common opened in 2010.
Don River Park: As a park running alongside the 38-kilometre-long Don River, Don River Park as a name doesn’t need much in the way of explanation: it would be called what it is – a park designed to celebrate its location in one of Toronto’s most significant watersheds. (And it would get to keep Waterfront Toronto’s working name for it.)
King’s Reserve: King’s Park, stretching from Berkeley Street to Queen Street East to the Don River, was one of two reserves set out by Lt.-Gov. John Graves Simcoe for public use when the Town of York was founded in 1793. (The other, on the western end of town, was the Garrison Reserve.)
Wonscotonach Park: Before Lt.-Gov. John Graves Simcoe renamed it after England’s River Don in the 18th century, the river that abuts the park was called Wonscotonach (pronounced Waw-sco-taw-NAWSH) by Mississaugas of New Credit First Nation people. In her diary at the time, Elizabeth Simcoe wrote that the word meant “back burnt grounds,” though some scholars prefer “burning bright point.”

The goal of the contest is to select a name that reflects the park’s unique setting on Toronto’s revitalized waterfront in the heart of what will become one of Canada’s newest, most technologically advanced and sustainable communities.

Currently known as Don River park due to its location near the Don River, the park is inspired by the site’s many inherent assets—its strong connections to the city, its proximity to the Don River, its unique ecological history, and its position on top of the area’s flood protection landform. The design maximizes the exceptional topography and capitalizes on the unique landscape to open sightlines to the Toronto skyline, the Don River and beyond.

At 7.3 hectares (18 acres) the park is the largest in the area and will become the heart of the new community. Located between Bayview Avenue and the GO/CN railroad lines, from King Street to the rail corridor in the south, the park is leveraging essential public infrastructure to deliver a magnificent public amenity.

Park names were submitted to The Grid’s Name That Park contest website between April 11 and April 25. The 448 proposed names reflected a wide range of the park’s strengths and advantages, including geographical, historical and environmental references.

The shortlist of five names was chosen by a selection committee made up of a broad range of community representatives and reviewed by the City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Department to ensure the proposed names meet the city’s naming policies.

The name that receives the most votes will be declared the winner and will be announced on May 22, 2013. The winning name will be declared official following approval by the city.

Official contest rules and the City of Toronto’s Honourific and Street Naming Policy are available on the contest website.

Follow Waterfront Toronto and The Grid on Facebook and Twitter for the latest contest updates.

Waterfront Toronto
The Governments of Canada and Ontario and the City of Toronto created Waterfront Toronto to oversee and lead the renewal of Toronto’s waterfront. Public accessibility, design excellence, sustainable development, economic development and fiscal sustainability are the key drivers of waterfront revitalization.

The Grid

The Grid is Toronto’s weekly city magazine. It is a fresh, accessible voice that captures the energy of the city for people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s, reflecting the downtown lifestyle of its audience through its hyper-local focus on Toronto’s many neighbourhoods. Content, which ranges from politics, the arts, and pop culture to fashion, style, and food and drink, is always delivered in a smart, surprising, highly visual way. www.TheGridTO.com

Media contact: Tari Stork, Manager, Project Communications, Waterfront Toronto

T: 416-214-1344 x 279 / C: 416-414-1577 / tstork@waterfrontoronto.ca

bird watching celebration marks improvements to Tommy Thompson park

Christopher — Sat, 11 May 2013 11:56:36 +0000

(From left to right) Mark Wilson, Chair, Waterfront Toronto; John Carmichael, MP Don Valley West, Government of Canada; Hon. Glen Murray, Minister of Transportation and Minister of Infrastructure and MPP Toronto Centre, Government of Ontario; Paula Fletcher, Toronto City Councillor, Ward 30 Toronto-Danforth; Brian Denney, CEO of Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA)

Waterfront Toronto and Toronto and Region Conservation (TRCA), together with the Governments of Canada, Ontario and the City of Toronto celebrated the official opening of improvements to Tommy Thompson Park today as bird watchers gathered for the park’s annual Spring Bird Festival.

“Waterfront Toronto is pleased to be contributing to the improvement of one of the most important natural areas on the Great Lakes,” said Mark Wilson, Chair, Waterfront Toronto. “The improvements to Tommy Thompson Park help connect people with the lakefront to enjoy the beauty and wonder of this unique urban wilderness.”

Recognized globally as an Important Bird Area, Tommy Thompson Park has undergone significant natural area enhancements, as well as the construction of three small buildings that will support public gatherings, educational events and research. The park itself is located on a man-made peninsula, known as the Leslie Street Spit, which extends five kilometres into Lake Ontario and is over 500 hectares in size. With more than 300-plus bird species documented at the park and the spectacular sight provided by the annual monarch migration, over 250,000 people visit the park each year to enjoy the beauty of this unique urban gem.

“Our Government’s investment is helping to transform the waterfront into an area that is internationally recognized for its parks and open spaces, design excellence and sustainable development,” said the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance and Minister Responsible for the GTA. “This project will enhance the quality of life for people in the city and across the GTA.”

“We are proud to support the revitalization of Toronto’s waterfront,” said Glen Murray, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure. “These improvements to Tommy Thompson Park will benefit the community and the park’s plants and wildlife for decades to come.”

“Tommy Thompson Park is a great success story in turning our waterfront into a natural environment for residents to visit for recreation,” said Councillor Paula Fletcher, Ward 30, Toronto-Danforth. “These improvements will encourage more people to come to the park and enjoy all the waterfront has to offer.”

The infrastructure components include the construction of a Staff Booth, an Environmental Shelter and an Ecological Research Station. The three small buildings emphasize an unobtrusive design and comply with the city’s bird-friendly development guidelines. The natural restoration and habitat improvements include 7.0 kilometres of new primary and secondary trails and 3.3 kilometres of new nature viewing trails, as well as aquatic habitat improvements with over 1.2 kilometres of shoreline restoration and 18.9 hectares of wetland habitat enhancements.

TRCA is an integral partner in the revitalization of Toronto’s waterfront and was responsible for the planning and construction of the park improvements.

“We are very excited that Phase I of the Tommy Thompson Park Master Plan has been completed. With strong partners like Waterfront Toronto, we will continue to make significant improvements to Toronto’s environment, making it a better place not only for plants and animals, but for park users as well,” said Brian Denney, CEO of Toronto and Region Conservation.

As with all Waterfront Toronto projects, sustainability was a key consideration when planning, designing and constructing the improvements at Tommy Thompson Park. They were designed to support the native ecology of the area, and include features that benefit residents as well as improve the local aquatic and terrestrial habitats. The buildings blend beautifully into their surroundings and the new trails and structures defer to the natural habitat, offering visitors opportunities to rest, interpret, interact with staff or take refuge from the elements.

Constructed by the Toronto Port Authority in 1959, Tommy Thompson Park represents millions of cubic metres of concrete, earth fill, dredged sand and construction waste. The park features wildflower meadows, cottonwood forests, coastal marches, cobble beaches and sand dunes. Wildlife, especially birds and butterflies, flourish at the park. Other recreational activities include hiking, cycling, rollerblading and fishing.

The Governments of Canada and Ontario and the City of Toronto created Waterfront Toronto to oversee and lead the renewal of Toronto’s waterfront. Public accessibility, design excellence, sustainable development, economic development and fiscal sustainability are the key drivers of waterfront revitalization.

Media Contact:

Tari Stork, Manager, Project Communications, Waterfront Toronto

T: 416-214-1344 x 279 / C: 416-414-1577 / tstork@waterfrontoronto.ca

Rowena Calpito, Supervisor, Media Management, Toronto and Region Conservation, T: 416-661-6600 ext. 5632 / C: 416- 358-3446 / rcalpito@trca.on.ca

Media Kit:

News Release
Communiqué (News Release – French)
Fact Sheet
Site Plan (Line Drawing)
Site Plan (Aerial Photograph)

Image Gallery:

Download high-resolution images below.

Park staff work on deep water enhancements.

The new ecological research station at Tommy Thompson Park.

Enhancements to natural areas at Tommy Thompson Park.

The new environmental shelter at Tommy Thompson Park. Courtesy of Toronto and Region Conservation.

An artist's rendering of the gateway to Tommy Thompson Park.

Native plantings enhance the meadow at Tommy Thompson Park.

New nesting boxes provide essential habitat for birds at Tommy Thompson Park.

The new staff booth at Tommy Thompson Park prior to final site finishes and landscaping.

competition underway for major art commissions in west don lands

Christopher — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:26:45 +0000

Waterfront Toronto has convened a distinguished jury, including art and design experts and a member of the local community, to evaluate proposals for three public art sites along Front Street east of Cherry. The jury will recommend the winning concepts this month and the commissions will be complete by summer of 2015. We are excited to share some of the proposed concepts here online.

This competition represents the next phase of the West Don Lands Public Art Strategy, which provides a framework for integrating art into the public realm that celebrates the industrial heritage of the West Don Lands site, as part of looking forward to a sustainable, vibrant future. The three commissions are being undertaken simultaneously in a continuing effort to build a West Don Lands art collection that is unique and expresses the on-going narrative of the site.

The proposals entered into the competition come from a shortlist of emerging, mid-career and established artists who represent high-calibre talent from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and France. Artists were invited to make proposals that would animate the public realm at each of the three designated sites: the Pan Am Legacy, the Children’s Art Zone and the Front Street Landmark.

Ten of the shortlisted artists granted Waterfront Toronto permission to publish snapshots of their concepts. All associated copyright and intellectual property is retained by the artists.

Pan/Parapan American Games Legacy

The largest of the three sites, located at the intersection of Bayview Avenue and Front Street , is the centre of the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Athletes’ Village. The selected artwork will commemorate the legacy of the Games, which acted as a catalyzing force in the revitalization of the West Don Lands. Proposals include (in alphabetical order by artist name):

Wolfgang Buttress – Oculus
Artist’s description: “Oculus creates a commanding, ethereal presence and lends a sense of purpose for activities and meetings, and focus for contemplations and reflections. Views of the rural hinterland, the urban realm and the skies above are framed and celebrated by Oculus. It is a new landmark, a destination point and a beacon, defining and celebrating a confident sense of place. Inspired by an abstracted cedar leaf to symbolise shelter, enclosure and nature’s life cycle, Oculus’ fundamental and inherent patterns and rhythms earth the sculpture into the site and within the viewer’s perceptions.”

Jun Kaneko – Temporarily Untitled
Artist’s description: “My concept for this proposal is to visually unify the Streets and Park at the public art site with an engaging highly visible focal element during the day and evening. Its contemporary vertical form is wrapped with bold colors emphasizing the horizontal movement of pedestrians, automobiles and the architecture. The colors resonate the circadian cycle of energy and light from the urban park and residential activity. Darker bands at the upper strata disappear around the brighter colors and float them in the sky at night while defining a vertical presence in daylight.”

John Alan McEwen – A Legacy of Rings and Animals
Artist’s description: “John McEwen’s proposal consists of two life-size animals cloaked in skins of stainless steel stars and a monumental penannular ring. When dusk falls, flame-like filaments close the gap in the ring with an animated program of flickering flames. The two animals, a lion, perhaps stepping off a coat of arms and a bear perhaps stepping out of the Pleistocene internally glow as they head towards the ring and towards the Don River. Momentarily real as they step out of context they and the ring do not belong to anyone or any institution but only to the imagination of each person passing by.”

Blue Republic and The Third of May Arts Inc. also submitted proposals for the Pan/Parapan American Games Legacy site, but declined to have their work posted here.

Children’s Art Zone

The middle site, located one block west of Bayview Avenue and Front Street, will contain artwork that seeks to engage with children. The winning proposal will attract and engage the young and the young-at-heart, inviting thoughtful and playful interaction. Proposals include (in alphabetical order by artist name):

Ernest Daetwyler – Where the Wild Things Are
Artist’s description: “The project Where the Wild Things Are for the Children’s Art Zone will engage children and adults alike on an immediate, personal level, connecting to the common childhood experiences we all share, with animals reminding of fairy tales told over generations and a maze, that proves to be, upon further inspection, Block 16 on Front Street. Further, by featuring the wild animals that are still present or periodically appear in Toronto and surrounding areas, we become aware of issues of co-existence. The project will inspire critical discourse and encourage a public of diverse cultural backgrounds and ages to meet, interact, talk and have fun.”

FRIENDSWITHYOU – The Sound of Time
Artist’s description: “The Sound of Time is a narrative figurative sonic garden that builds on the sonic past of the industrious area where it’s located, and delivers a whimsical, uplifting, and relaxing experience to future visitors. As people engage with the art works, each piece will vibrate low sound tones that act as a healing device for the purpose of spiritual consciousness. Following each pathway and banging each bell-like object prompts playful imagination and thought provoking entertainment via a nontraditional play environment. FWY has created a multi-sensory and multi-feature environment, which allows for child-like exploration within a fine art, public space, accessible to both kids and adults alike.”

Young and Giroux Project Inc. – untitled
Artist’s description: “This sculpture is made of standard playground components and materials and is a CSA certified playground. It is modeled on the generic two-tower + podium residential developments that are ubiquitous in the city. In some areas, the surfaces of the sculpture will have illustrations of scenes from nature, industry and urbanization engraved into them. This multi-coloured and abstracted paneling will simultaneously invoke both contemporary high-rise cladding systems, as well as the varied panels on the page of a comic book. Children will be able to play inside the podium of ‘the building’, which will be a custom-designed rope climber.”

Atelier Daily Tous Les Jours Inc. and Implosion Post Media Ltd. also contributed proposals for the Children’s Art Zone site, but declined to have their work posted here.

Front Street Landmark

The western-most site, one block east of Cherry Street, will feature artwork that acts as a landmark or gateway for people travelling from the downtown core to what is anticipated to be an intensely animated stretch of Front Street East. Proposals include (in alphabetical order by artist name):

Havel Ruck Projects – Tkaronto
Artist’s description: “HRP proposes a sculpture composed from 100% repurposed aluminum / steel boat hulls, strategically ‘sliced’ and assembled to create public space that is both monumental and intimate. Angled hulls jutting upward will form “narrows” in relationship with each other, the surrounding plaza, and visitors. The sculpture would be fully integrated into the established paving plan of the pedestrian plaza, and would include dramatic up-lighting in the evening. Small perforations in a gradient pattern suggest the starry sky at night, and the dappled light of trees during the day. Among these perforations, the public will be engaged by views through larger telescoping portals through the boats, creating light and visual connections across the sculpture and the surrounding context.”

Tadashi Kawamata – untitled
Artist’s description: “Tadashi Kawamata’s proposal for Block15 is a twelve meter high tower, a sculpture of lampposts, which will contrast with the orthogonal geometry of buildings and street lines, and the efficiently organized public space. The sculpture’s nature is made of lampposts, accumulated to create a tower structure, holding themselves together, like the mikado sticks do right before they fall. At night, lampposts will glow creating an internal volume which will be brightly lit and the lampposts will be visible in contrast. They will cast their mikado-like shadows on the adjacent pavement.”

Rodney LaTourelle – City Units
Artist description: “The artwork consists of four twisted columns that provide a Front Street ‘gateway’ to the West Don Lands and function as modest markers for the history and transformation of this neighborhood through a sustainable, material-based approach. Constructed from reclaimed brick, cast concrete, polycarbonate illuminated with solar power, and coloured steel sheets with a smog-eating coating; each column has a specific material and scale that gauges the urban surroundings through direct expression. The artwork subverts the typically autonomous nature of public art by reconciling a formal approach with the everyday experience of the city, while maintaining connections to past and future.”

Paul Raff Studios – Waking Hours
Artist’s description: “Waking Hours embodies the beautiful, intangible geometry of the path of the sun. It traces the angle of the sun between the solstice extremes of winter to summer, December 21st to June 21st. The sculpture’s fourteen sweeping, faceted planes each represent a specific time of day: 7 o’clock, 8 o’clock, 9 o’clock… and so on. And, each of the planes has laser-cut lines which precisely show the angle of the sun in a day-by-day vertical sequence: December 21, 22, 23… and so on. All 2660 hours of daylight, or “waking hours,” are rendered tangible and legible. The result is an iconic landmark. Its unique and complex three-dimensional form inspires intrigue and exploration.”

top five names announced in contest to name newest waterfront park

Christopher — Mon, 06 May 2013 17:17:07 +0000

The voting round for Name That Park is now underway. Until May 17, the public may vote for one of the five names chosen from the 448 suggested names received from the public. The name with the most number of votes will ultimately become the new name of the park.

“We’re extremely pleased that so many people are participating in the contest to help us name this spectacular new park,” said John Campbell, President and CEO of Waterfront Toronto. “It’s a reminder of how important the waterfront is for the entire city and how much the public values vibrant parks and public spaces.”

The public is being asked to vote for their favourite new name on the contest website at Name That Park from the shortlist of names. The shortlist of names includes:

Ataratiri Park: Ataratiri (pronounced “a-tar-a-TEER-y”) is a Huron-Wendat word meaning “supported by clay.” That’s fitting, because the park is built on top of a clay flood protection landform that will prevent downtown Toronto from flooding during a major storm event in the Don Watershed. If Ataratiri sounds familiar, that’s because it was also the name for a previous plan for the area.
Corktown Common: “Corktown” for the larger neighbourhood the park will form a new part of—a neighbourhood named to honour the Irish workers who settled there after their country’s famine—and “Common” because it will belong to everyone. Corktown Common would be the second of two recent east-end parks to share the “Common” designation: nearby Sherbourne Common opened in 2010.
Don River Park: As a park running alongside the 38-kilometre-long Don River, Don River Park as a name doesn’t need much in the way of explanation: it would be called what it is – a park designed to celebrate its location in one of Toronto’s most significant watersheds. (And it would get to keep Waterfront Toronto’s working name for it.)
King’s Reserve: King’s Park, stretching from Berkeley Street to Queen Street East to the Don River, was one of two reserves set out by Lt.-Gov. John Graves Simcoe for public use when the Town of York was founded in 1793. (The other, on the western end of town, was the Garrison Reserve.)
Wonscotonach Park: Before Lt.-Gov. John Graves Simcoe renamed it after England’s River Don in the 18th century, the river that abuts the park was called Wonscotonach (pronounced Waw-sco-taw-NAWSH) by Mississaugas of New Credit First Nation people. In her diary at the time, Elizabeth Simcoe wrote that the word meant “back burnt grounds,” though some scholars prefer “burning bright point.”

The shortlist of names will be posted on the contest website from May 6 to May 17, where people will be able to vote for their favourite name. The name that receives the most votes will be declared the winner and will be announced on May 22, 2013. The winning name will be declared official following approval by the city.

Official contest rules and the City of Toronto’s Honourific and Street Naming Policy are available on the contest website.

Follow Waterfront Toronto and The Grid on Facebook and Twitter for the latest contest updates.

The Grid

Media contact: Tari Stork, Manager, Project Communications, Waterfront Toronto

T: 416-214-1344 x 279 / C: 416-414-1577 / tstork@waterfrontoronto.ca

government investments in toronto’s waterfront deliver strong economic returns

Christopher — Wed, 01 May 2013 11:50:09 +0000

Investments in Toronto’s waterfront revitalization by the governments of Canada and Ontario and the City of Toronto to date have produced $3.2 billion in output for the Canadian economy and 16,200 full-time years of employment, according to a third-party study released today by Waterfront Toronto.

Prepared by economic research firm urbanMetrics, the study found that the $1.26 billion public investment made through Waterfront Toronto between April 2001 and March 2013 has also generated government revenues of approximately $622 million, including $348 million to the federal government, $237 million to the provincial government, and $36 million to the City of Toronto.

“Not only is revitalization delivering a great waterfront for the city, it is also a major economic engine in its own right, fuelling growth and creating jobs,” said Waterfront Toronto President and CEO John Campbell. “Our investments are a catalyst for massive private sector investment across the waterfront as well as in adjacent neighbourhoods.”

“Our Government is pleased to support the investments made to improve and reclaim Toronto’s industrial past by not only improving the quality of life in Toronto and the GTA, but also by helping to create and maintain jobs and drive economic growth,” said the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance.

“The renewal of Toronto’s waterfront is a great example of how infrastructure development and growth planning are bringing real benefits to the people of this region,” said the Honourable Glen Murray, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure. “Through Waterfront Toronto, our government is helping to create compact, transit-oriented communities, parks and public spaces.”

“The tri-government effort to revitalize our waterfront is an increasingly important driver for economic development in Toronto,” said Toronto City Councillor Michael Thompson, Chair of Economic Development and Culture Committee. “Ultimately it is helping Toronto compete with other leading global cities for investment, jobs and people.”

In addition to the economic benefits from its direct investment, Waterfront Toronto has attracted development projects valued at nearly $2.6 billion to the first new waterfront neighbourhoods of East Bayfront and West Don Lands – effectively doubling the value of government investments in the waterfront. These projects include the Bayside mixed-use development by Hines valued at $910 million, the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Athletes’ Village by Dundee Kilmer valued at $814 million, Urban Capital’s River City Condominiums valued at $383 million, and Great Gulf’s Monde Condominiums valued at $276 million. Construction of these projects will contribute $2.22 billion to the Canadian economy, nearly 23,600 full-time years of employment and $1.17 billion in labour income.

Beyond the land it controls, Waterfront Toronto’s revitalization work has helped stimulate more than $9.6 billion of private investment. There are 44 recent and planned development projects on privately-owned lands across the waterfront and in adjacent neighbourhoods close to where Waterfront Toronto has invested heavily in infrastructure, such as parks, waterfront access, transit, flood protection and brownfield remediation. These developments will contribute an additional $8.9 billion to the Canadian economy, more than 94,800 years of employment and $4.7 billion in labour income.

“The return on public investment to date is remarkable, but the recurring benefits of waterfront revitalization will be far greater, from permanent jobs and tourism spending to ongoing government revenues from property and income taxes,” explained Mr. Campbell. “Continued public support is building a lasting economic and social legacy for years to come.”

Once the full vision for the waterfront is realized, construction alone is expected to add $12.9 billion to the economy, more than 137,900 years of employment and revenues of nearly $4.9 billion to the three levels of government. Combined development in East Bayfront, West Don Lands and the adjoining neighbourhoods will yield more than 26,600 residential units and will accommodate 21,700 permanent jobs. When complete, the City of Toronto will receive $252 million in development charges to fund future infrastructure and $105 million annually in property tax revenue.

Waterfront Toronto
The governments of Canada and Ontario and the City of Toronto created Waterfront Toronto to oversee and lead the renewal of Toronto’s waterfront. Public accessibility, design excellence, sustainable development, economic development and fiscal sustainability are the key drivers of waterfront revitalization.

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Media Contact:
Samantha Gileno, Manager, Project Communications, T: 416-214-1344 ext. 264 / C: 416-271-1316
sgileno@waterfrontoronto.ca

Media Kit:
News Release – Economic Impact Analysis
Communiqué – Étude des retombées économiques (News Release in French)
Economic Impact Analysis Report (2001-2013)
Economic Impact Analysis (2001-2013) – Summary Report
Economic Impact Analysis (2001-2013) – Infographic 1
Economic Impact Analysis (2001-2013) – Infographic 2
Economic Impact Analysis (2001-2013) – Infographic 3

celebrate jane’s walk on queens quay

Andrea — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:41:54 +0000

Join Waterfront Toronto on Saturday, May 4, to celebrate Jane’s Walk along Toronto’s main waterfront street. Inspired by urban thinker Jane Jacobs, Jane’s Walk is a series of walking tours designed to help people better understand the cities they live in. Last year, walks were held in 85 cities around the world.

The Queens Quay walk will begin at the Spadina WaveDeck at 1pm and is expected to last about 90 minutes. During the walk, participants will learn more about the visionary design for Queens Quay from Waterfront Toronto’s Vice-President of Planning and Design, Christopher Glaisek and West 8 + DTAH landscape architect, Jelle Therry. As the walk moves east on Queens Quay, the group will see firsthand how construction is unfolding. Along the way, participants will see where 2.5 million pieces of granite will be installed for an impressive new promenade and how the new roadway will be reconfigured. There will also be time to climb Toronto’s must-see wavedecks and stroll along the water’s edge promenade at Canada’s Sugar Beach.

Construction on the $110 million revitalization project is well underway. Stretching 1.7km, from just west of Lower Spadina Avenue to just east of Bay Street, construction crews are completely rebuilding and revitalizing the area both above and below ground. When complete in Spring 2015, Queens Quay will be completely transformed into a world-class waterfront boulevard.

Jane’s Walk on Queens Quay is a rain or shine event. RSVPs are not required. More information is available on the Jane’s Walk website or at info@waterfrontoronto.ca.

last chance to help name Toronto’s newest waterfront park

Andrea — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 17:54:31 +0000

TORONTO, April 24, 2013 – Last call for submissions to Name That Park. You have until this Thursday, April 25 at 11:59 pm to submit your suggestion to name Toronto’s the next great waterfront park. Since the contest launched on April 11, almost 400 names have been submitted.

This spectacular park is opening this summer in the West Don Lands. Waterfront Toronto and The Grid are inviting you to come up with a name that reflects the park’s unique setting on Toronto’s waterfront in the heart of what will become one of Canada’s newest, most technologically advanced and sustainable communities.

Proposed names should reflect the park’s strengths and advantages, for example its location in the heart of the West Don Lands, a community rich in natural and social history; its proximity to the Don River and the waterfront; its innovative location on top of the area’s flood protection landform; or, its sophisticated approach to sustainability. Submissions must include a brief explanation of why your proposed park name should be chosen.

A selection committee made up of a broad range of community representatives will review the submissions and shortlist three to five names for the public to vote on. The shortlist will also be vetted by the City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Department to ensure the proposed names meet the city’s naming policies.

From May 6 to May 17 you can vote for your favourite name on the contest website. The winning name will be announced on May 22, 2013 and declared official following approval by the city.

At 7.3 hectares (18 acres) this beautiful and innovative park will be the cornerstone of the revitalized West Don Lands and a year-round destination. Located between Bayview Avenue and the GO/CN railroad lines, from King Street to the rail corridor in the south, this magnificent public amenity is leveraging essential public infrastructure to provide community members of all ages and abilities with a place to gather, exercise, play and socialize.

Official contest rules and the City of Toronto’s Honourific and Street Naming Policy are available on the contest website.

Follow Waterfront Toronto and The Grid on Facebook and Twitter for the latest contest updates.

The Grid

Media contact: Tari Stork, Manager, Project Communications, Waterfront Toronto
T: 416-214-1344 x 279 / C: 416-414-1577 / tstork@waterfrontoronto.ca

toronto hosts judge in bid to be named world’s most intelligent community of the year

Christopher — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:45:53 +0000

On April 17 and 18, Toronto will host Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) co-founder Robert Bell as part of the city’s bid to be named the World’s Most Intelligent Community of the Year. During the two-day tour, Mr. Bell will visit some of the city’s leaders in innovation, information and communications technology. He will spend an entire day touring the waterfront area, which is emerging as a new hub of knowledge-based industries.

“We are excited to show Mr. Bell how we are leading the way in promoting the adoption of new and innovative information and communications technology,” says John Campbell, President and CEO of Waterfront Toronto. “The open access, ultra-high speed community network we are building is just one example of how our waterfront revitalization is acting as a catalyst for new investment and opportunities for business.”

Toronto is one of seven cities from around the globe in contention to be named 2013 Intelligent Community of the Year by the New York-based ICF, which assesses cities on their broadband deployment and use, workforce development, innovation and digital inclusion.

“The City of Toronto is pleased that Mr. Bell from the Intelligent Community Forum will experience some of the city’s many collaborative environments,” says Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the City’s Economic Development Committee. “He will see how the city’s diverse workforce influences our innovation and forges our identity as a global city.”

The tour will include stops at Ryerson’s Digital Media Zone, George Brown College’s Digital Media & Gaming Incubator, Evergreen Brickworks, Waterfront Toronto, Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games, and Sheridan College’s Screen Industries Research and Training Centre at Pinewood Studios.

The ICF studies the world’s cities to discover and then share the strategies used to create an Intelligent Community. ICF co-founder Robert Bell will spend the two days reviewing the efforts that led to Toronto being named one of the seven communities in the world that are on the short list for the title of Intelligent Community of the Year for 2013. “This is the most fascinating part of our annual global search for the Intelligent Community of the Year. The ICF co-founders spend time in each of the Top7 cities and we really get a much better idea of what makes a community a contender,” says Robert Bell.

Intelligent Community Forum

The Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) studies and promotes the best practices of the world’s Intelligent Communities as they adapt to the demands and seize the opportunities presented by information and communications technology (ICT). To help communities build prosperous economies, solve social problems and enrich local cultures, ICF conducts primary research, hosts events, publishes newsletters and books including the most recent, “Seizing Our Destiny”. ICF also produces its high-profile international awards program. For over more than a decade, ICF has become an international movement that attracts the attention of global leaders, thinkers, and media observers. The ICF Foundation consists of 119 cities and regions that have been designated as Intelligent Communities by ICF and which participate in an ongoing global dialogue to strengthen local economies. For more information, go to: http://www.intelligentcommunity.org

Waterfront Toronto

City of Toronto

Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. Toronto’s government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Media contact:

Christopher McKinnon
Manager, Marketing & Communications
Waterfront Toronto
416-214-1344 x 219 / 647-267-5511
cmckinnon@waterfrontoronto.ca

Shane Gerard
Senior Communications Coordinator
City of Toronto
416-397-5711
sgerard@toronto.ca

help name the newest waterfront park

Christopher — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:02:13 +0000

TORONTO – The public is invited to come up with a name for the next great waterfront park opening this summer in the West Don Lands. The naming contest by Waterfront Toronto and The Grid encourages the public to submit their ideas for a new park name, and then ultimately choose the winning name through an online voting process.

“The West Don Lands is Toronto’s next great neighbourhood, and this park is a major component of it,” said John Campbell, President and CEO of Waterfront Toronto. “This contest is a fun way to encourage everyone to get involved in our projects and waterfront revitalization.”

The park is currently known as Don River park due to its location near the Don River. The beautiful and innovative park will be the cornerstone of the revitalized West Don Lands and a year-round destination. Easily accessible by public transit, it will provide community members of all ages and abilities with a place to gather, exercise, play and socialize.

The goal of the contest is to select a name that reflects the park’s unique setting on Toronto’s waterfront in the heart of what will become one of Canada’s newest, most technologically advanced and sustainable communities.

Designed by renowned landscape architectural firm Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, the park is inspired by the site’s many inherent assets—its strong connections to the city, its proximity to the Don River, its unique ecological history, and its position on top of the area’s flood protection landform. The design maximizes the exceptional topography and capitalizes on the unique landscape to open sightlines to the Toronto skyline, the Don River and beyond.

There are two ways you can participate – you can suggest a name for the park on the contest website at Name That Park and then you can vote for your favourite new name in the voting round.

Park names can be submitted to The Grid’s Name That Park contest website between April 11 and April 25. Proposed names should reflect the park’s strengths and advantages, for example its location in the heart of West Don Lands, its strong connections to adjacent neighbourhoods, its proximity to the Don River and the waterfront, its innovative location on top of the area’s flood protection landform, or its sophisticated approach to sustainability. Submissions must include a brief explanation of why your proposed park name should be chosen.

At the end of the submission period a selection committee made up of a broad range of community representatives will shortlist three to five names for public voting. The shortlist will also be vetted by the City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Department to ensure the proposed names meet the city’s naming policies.

The shortlist of names will be posted on the contest website and people will be able to vote for their favourite name from May 6 to May 17. The name that receives the most votes will be declared the winner and will be announced on May 22, 2013. The winning name will be declared official following approval by the city.

Official contest rules and the City of Toronto’s Honourific and Street Naming Policy are available on the contest website.

Follow Waterfront Toronto and The Grid on Facebook and Twitter for the latest contest updates.

Waterfront Toronto

The Grid

Media contact: Tari Stork, Manager, Project Communications, Waterfront Toronto
T: 416-214-1344 x 279 / C: 416-414-1577 / tstork@waterfrontoronto.ca

sherbourne common pavilion earns LEED gold

Christopher — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 18:03:38 +0000

The Pavilion in Sherbourne Common has been certified LEED® Gold by the Canada Green Building Council. The striking zinc-clad structure is the first building built by Waterfront Toronto to be officially designated LEED® Gold.

LEED® is a third-party certification program and an internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. To achieve its LEED® Gold rating, the Pavilion earned credits in five areas: sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. Some of the specific credits achieved by the Pavilion include:

Innovative wastewater technologies – no potable water will be used for sewage conveyance (only greywater will be used for the toilets in the Pavilion).
Water efficient landscaping – water use is reduced by 50% through the use of high efficiency irrigation techniques.
Sustainable construction – when building the Pavilion, 96% of construction waste was diverted from the landfill, 9.6% of construction materials contained recycled content, and 27% of materials were sourced regionally.

Some of the Pavilion’s LEED® Gold credits relied on its location in Sherbourne Common. A redeveloped brownfield site, Sherbourne Common is the first park in Canada to integrate a neighbourhood-wide stormwater treatment facility into its design. The UV facility where strong UV light will be used to treat East Bayfront’s stormwater is located in the basement of the Pavilion. Above ground, the Pavilion straddles the park’s beautiful and functional 240-metre long water channel which transports treated water to Lake Ontario. Until the stormwater infrastructure for East Bayfront is complete, the Pavilion’s UV Facility is treating water from Toronto’s Harbour.

Waterfront Toronto’s revitalization process is designed to make Toronto a world leader in sustainable development with buildings and neighbourhoods that are among the greenest in the world. Its Minimum Green Building Requirements define the sustainability standards for the waterfront and a minimum of LEED® Gold for all buildings.

In addition to sustainable green buildings, all new waterfront neighbourhoods are also being designed and built to promote green and healthy living. The neighbourhoods currently under development, East Bayfront, West Don Lands and North Keating in the Lower Don Lands, are among the first in the world to achieve Stage 1 Gold certification under the LEED ND (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighbourhood Development) pilot program established by the U.S. Green Building Council. The program is a tool to help planners and developers create communities that not only protect the environment, but also address important social and health issues such as sustainable transportation, affordable housing, public consultation, proximity to day-to-day destinations, and maintenance of heritage buildings.