Save Ontario Place Campaign
Reaches a Happy Conclusion
On Monday June 4,
John Tory held a Town Hall meeting
at the Metro Toronto Convention
Centre to address the future and
revitalization of Ontario Place. As
concerned citizens, business people,
and public servants took their
seats, the energy was expectant and
exciting. Viewers from across
Ontario watched the proceedings on a
live feed, and media was on hand to
capture the event. Tory himself
remarked on the packed house,
surprised at the numbers drawn by
the Ontario Place issue. For Ontario
Place supporters, however, the size
and diversity of the crowd was
merely a testament to the importance
this landmark attraction still holds
for the people of Ontario.
Yet the success of the night was
neither the size of the crowd nor
the extensive media coverage. It was
Tory’s landmark announcement that
Ontario Place was not suitable for,
and would not be considered as, a
potential site for a casino
development plan.
A wave of applause broke out after
these remarks; it set a positive and
upbeat tone for the rest of the
evening.
President, Smokey (Warren) Thomas
sat center row in support of OPSEU
members affected by the Ontario
Place shutdown. He submitted written
suggestions to Tory, and eagerly
participated in the roundtable
discussions on the planned
revitalization project.
Participants were asked to vote by a
dot-mocracy exercise for ideas of
what they would like to see at
Ontario Place. Public landmarks such
as Chicago’s Millennium Park,
Finland’s ICIUM Wonderworld of Ice
and Toronto’s own Sugar Beach (as
pictured next to Warren “Smokey”
Thomas) were displayed around the
room, and participants “stickered”
with red or green dots to indicate
whether they “liked” or “disliked”
the featured development ideas..
Condominiums and retail shopping
received a lot of red dots. The
results show overwhelming support
for outdoor, innovative, cultural
and family spaces.
Some points of contention that
evening included how funding would
be secured for the massive overhaul,
whether condominiums and retail
outlets could provide a continuous
income stream, and if corporate
sponsorship is a positive funding
option within a public space. Of
particular interest was whether
parts of the park could remain open
during the five year redevelopment
interim.
The Town Hall is a triumph worth
celebrating. It marks the end of a
successful Save Ontario Place
campaign, marked by a strong and
unique social media initiative, and
a benchmark decision to keep casinos
off of Ontario Place waterfront. All
in all, OPSEU and its members should
be proud to have influenced the
non-casino outcome, via an
altogether feel-good campaign.
Crusaders for Ontario Place,
OPSEU President, Smokey
(Warren) Thomas and Toronto
Councillor, Mike Layton
OPSEU President, Smokey
(Warren) Thomas participates
in the dot-mocracy exercise.
Participants vote on ideas
with green and red dots. The
results show support for
outdoor, innovative,
cultural, and family spaces.
On June 5, 2012, over 125
citizens participated in a
town hall meeting about the
revitalization of Ontario
Place at the Metro
Convention Centre.
John Tory, Chair of the
Minister's Advisory Panel on
Ontario Place Revitalization
asks attendees of the town
hall meeting about what
their vision of Ontario
Place.
Save Ontario
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