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OPSEU/NUPGE members' Save Ontario Place campaign a success!
Toronto (11 June 2012) - On June 4, John Tory, Chair of the Minister's Advisory Panel on Ontario Place Revitalization held a town hall meeting at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre to address the future and revitalization of Ontario Place. Concerned citizens, business people, and public servants packed the room while viewers from across the province watched the proceedings on a live feed. 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.
More surprising for those in attendance was Tory’s announcement that Ontario Place was not suitable for, and would not be considered as, a potential site for a casino development plan.
Warren (Smokey) Thomas, Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU) President, was on hand to support the members affected by the Ontario Place shutdown. OPSEU/NUPGE had 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 (in photo with 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 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. OPSEU/NUPGE members should be proud to have influenced the non-casino outcome through a fun and creative campaign.
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The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE