Pan American Games Village To Be Located In West Don Lands
April 26, 2009 1:00 PM
McGuinty Government Investing In West Don Lands On Toronto’s Waterfront
Ontario announced the location for the proposed 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games athletes' village today as Toronto's West Don Lands.
The proposed village, should the city win its bid to host the games, could accommodate up to 8,500 athletes and team officials in a single, centrally located area, and could include the following components:
- sport and recreation facilities such as a recreation centre, a 50M pool, a 400m track, parkland and walking/running/cycling trails,
- an accreditation centre to process athletes, team officials and visitors, and
- retail space, restaurants, medical centre, banks, entertainments areas, and other conveniences..
After the Games, the village is expected to become part of a new community of high-quality affordable housing and market units already planned for the West Don Lands.
Using the West Don Lands for the village complements Waterfront Toronto's revitalization effort well underway and capitalizes on the opportunities that hosting the Pan Am Games presents. It also ensures site clean-up and a significant portion of land development occurs by 2015, several years earlier than currently envisioned.
QUICK FACTS
- All three levels of government have already committed to fund the development of infrastructure and parks in the West Don Lands as part of a broader $1.5 billion commitment that supports projects across Toronto’s waterfront.
- The Pan Am Games is a major international multi-sport event, held every four years.
- The games consist of all Summer Olympic sports, plus other non-Olympic events, and serve as an Olympic-qualifier.
- The last Pan Am Games were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in July 2007 and the next will take place in Guadalajara, Mexico in October 2011.
LEARN MORE
CONTACTS
- Dipika Damerla
MHP Minister's Office
416-326-8947
dipka.damerla@ontario.ca
ontario.ca/MEI
Pan Am Village on Toronto's waterfront
"The West Don Lands is poised to become one of the most exciting new neighbourhoods in Toronto. As part of the Ontario government’s commitment to revitalizing Toronto’s waterfront, we are creating an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable waterfront community there, and the Pan American Village is certainly part of that plan."
– George Smitherman
Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Infrastructure
"The 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games is an opportunity to showcase Ontario and host an exceptional event. The athletes’ village is a key component of the bid. This site will provide a safe, home away from home for athletes to live and train during the games."
– Margarett Best
Minister of Health Promotion
"This new development will be an exceptional fit for the requirements of the Games and also a wonderful legacy for the City of Toronto. Development in the West Don Lands is already underway as part of a great intergovernmental partnership – it only makes sense to accelerate these plans by using this site for the Pan American Village."
– David Peterson
Chair of the Toronto 2015 Pan American Games Bid
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