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AlvinofDiaspar

Guest
The Post reported that the city will be updating the plans to host the Expo 2015 - and that it will focus on the Portlands only, with TIA/underwater subway dropped from the scheme.

Will report any further news on the topic in this thread ASAP.

AoD
 
My gosh, I am shocked to hear that the underwater subway has been dropped as I was so looking forward to the Lake Ontario station, with all the built-up zebra mussle density.

The question is, how did that concept every get past the laughability test.

If the feds and the province are behind Expo, lets bring it on. It may be the only way to suck some money for the waterfront out of those two levels of government.
 
Yeah, there is a press conference at 10:30 a.m. today at Metro Hall, I may swing by right now to hear it.

I know there will be another round of public consultations.

Louroz
 
You can tell it's election year in the big city when they kickstart this thing again.
 
Too bad. This means they were unable to convince the Feds to kick The Port Authority off the island.
 
Exactly what I was thinking. It's ok to have the Portlands as the main and single location anyway. I don't see how it would beneficial to have visitors going from one location to another so far away.

The Portlands offer an excellent view of the city anyway and the Island Airport will eventually die off as far as I'm concerned.
 
Really Messy Press Release...

Link

Toronto in Home Stretch for Expo 2015 Decision

Final Public Consultations in April, City Council Decision Expected in
May

TORONTO, April 5 /CNW/ - The City of Toronto is nearing a decision on
whether to submit a formal bid to host a World Expo in 2015. A second round of
Public Consultations is scheduled for April and a City Council decision will
likely be made in late May, Councillor Brian Ashton, Chair of the Toronto 2015
World Expo Steering Committee, announced today.
"When we started this process, we promised that we would not make a final
decision until we fully understood the costs, benefits and possible legacies
of a World Expo," Ashton said. "We also promised that the process would be
fully transparent and we would consult extensively with the public. We've now
spoken with international experts, commissioned 13 Technical Studies that will
all be finished and posted in summary form on our public website by mid-April,
and have set dates for a second round of public input."
The schedule for the Public Consultations is presented below. All events
are open to the public and the media.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meeting Date and Time Location
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Open House presenting the Tuesday April 18 Ryerson University
results of the Technical 4:00 pm-9:00 pm Student Campus Centre
Studies Multi-purpose Room
55 Gould St.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
City-Wide Public Workshop 1 Thursday April 20 North York Memorial
NORTH 6:00 pm-9:30 pm Community Hall,
Burgundy Room
5110 Yonge Street,
Lower Level
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
City-Wide Public Workshop 2 Monday April 24 Harbourfront Centre
SOUTH 6:00 pm-9:30 pm Brigantine Room
235 Queens Quay West
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

"When we held our first round of consultations in the fall, people were
quite enthusiastic about the idea of Toronto hosting a World Expo in 2015,"
said Paula Dill, Chief Operating Officer of the Toronto World Expo Corporation
(ExpoCorp). "But they also said that they wanted more detailed information
before giving their final advice. We hope that as many people as possible will
come out to the Open House, meet the consultants, and see their findings and
recommendations, and also come out to the public workshops to take part in
group discussions."
Following the completion of the studies and consultations, the Expo
Corporation will prepare a report with recommendations on whether or not to
proceed with a bid, and the recommended major elements. The report will be
submitted to the City Of Toronto's Policy and Finance Committee at its meeting
on May 16 and be released publicly. It will be presented to Toronto City
Council May 23/24/25.
A final decision on the host city for the 2015 World Expo will be made by
The Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) at its General Assembly in
February 2008.
 
From the Post:

Link to article

Port lands touted as Expo site
Bid progress report: Fair would leave city with a new neighbourhood

James Cowan
National Post

Thursday, April 06, 2006

Holding the 2015 World Expo in Toronto could transform the eastern port lands from an industrial wasteland into a thriving neighbourhood with "iconic" buildings, according to councillors working on the city's pitch for the event.

Toronto's bid committee offered a one-year progress report yesterday, hinting it wants to stage the six-month event along the city's waterfront with a theme of cultural tolerance and communication.

When city council authorized the preparation of a bid last April, three possible fairgrounds were proposed: Downsview Park, the eastern port lands, and a site partially occupied by the island airport. But a series of studies on issues from transportation to marketing all "strongly point" to the port lands as the best option, according to World Expo bid chairman Brian Ashton.

"Transportation alone drives you towards the waterfront," Mr. Ashton said. "All of the GO Train lines terminate at Union Station, and we know that the delegates at the [Bureau International des Expositions, the fair's governing body] will favour a waterfront site."

The councillor argued the 162-hectare fairground could be developed into a new neighbourhood after the event. In addition, the Expo would mean expanded public transit networks and new city landmarks.

Mr. Ashton noted the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Royal Albert Hall in London, the Space Needle in Seattle and Expo Centre in Vancouver were all built as part of past Expos.

Councillor Peter Milczyn said the theme of Toronto's Expo would likely reflect the city's multicultural character.

"People in our city live in harmony," Mr. Milczyn said. "There are human connections in Toronto that spread across the globe and that ties in with our common future and technology and advancing civil society."

Toronto's version of the Eiffel Tower or the Space Needle could be a landmark housing a new institution affiliated with the United Nations, Mr. Milczyn said.

A feasibility study conducted last year by a consultant suggested the fair would cost $3.7-billion and attract 23.6 million visitors. While the fair could generate $6.8-billion in tourism spending across the city, only $1-billion would be recouped by the Expo. Mr. Ashton admitted that past Expos have not been profitable, adding both the federal and provincial governments would be expected to help cover the cost of the project.

"You can have fun, you can have a World Expo, but you can have one that makes good business sense and makes good economic sense for Toronto, Ontario and the country in general," Mr. Ashton said.

The bid committee will conduct a second round of public consultations this month with a goal of presenting city council with a final report in May.

Even if municipal politicians endorse the plan, it will still need the approval of the federal government.

Mr. Ashton said he believes Prime Minister Stephen Harper will back the bid, given the Conservatives' support for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

It is "Toronto's turn" to host a high-profile event, Mr. Ashton said.

"British Columbia has had two international events with the Expo and now the Olympics, Alberta had the Olympics, Quebec had the World's Fair and the Olympics, but Ontario has had no international events," Mr. Ashton said.

He said he would like the Prime Minister to present the bid in June to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE).

The only city competing with Toronto for the 2015 Expo is Izmir, Turkey. However, Moscow, Russia and Rio de Janeiro may also be interested.

The biggest challenge facing Toronto's bid might be garnering enough support from residents and the business community, Mr. Ashton said.

"It's time for the Toronto public to step up to the plate as well," he said. "And to be brutally frank, other cities such as Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal all have private sectors who know when it's time to do something for the city, when it's to build legacies that are long lasting."
 
I'm guessing the theme will be "Building The Future: Natural Gas Power and Cement". Large exhibits matching the theme will be set up in the southeast and east sides of the expo site.
 
Why do we always have to theme everything towards Diversity. Thats like having a car ad campaign that goes something like "hey, we use tires!"

Lets find a new theme.
 
Why do we always have to theme everything towards Diversity. Thats like having a car ad campaign that goes something like "hey, we use tires!"

Lets find a new theme.
Click to expand...

We don't have the most creative people running this city.
 
I like the diversity thing. If you are from here, of course, it kind of sucks. It's certainly not sexy. However, coming from just about anywhere else, Toronto blows people's minds because of its diversity. In that sense that theme is probably the right way to go. My girlfriend is from a very homogeneous country and Toronto's diversity is a big part of why she wants to stay here.

Despite all its faults, abroad Toronto represents somewhat of a utopia when it comes to tolerance and acceptance. Everywhere except here, that is, because we're used to it and kind of sick of hearing it. Go talk to some cab drivers, though. Even though most of them are struggling to get by while they drive around less educated people than themselves, they always talk about the fact that Toronto is a peaceful, accepting place. Some of them are from places where people's limbs are cut off because they are from a different ethnic group. Hell, I'll take diversity over that any day, regardless of how boring it is.

We just take a lot for granted here. This is paradise, believe it or not.
 
A feasibility study conducted last year by a consultant suggested the fair would cost $3.7-billion and attract 23.6 million visitors. While the fair could generate $6.8-billion in tourism spending across the city, only $1-billion would be recouped by the Expo. Mr. Ashton admitted that past Expos have not been profitable, adding both the federal and provincial governments would be expected to help cover the cost of the project.
Click to expand...

"$3.7-billion" "..past Expos have not been profitable.." "..both the federal and provincial governments would be expected to help cover the cost of the project."
:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol
 
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