March 27, 2006

TORONTO—Today, Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Corp. (TWRC) chair Robert Fung, The Honourable John Baird, President of the Treasury Board of Canada and the federal Minister responsible for the Toronto Waterfront Revitalization Initiative, The Honourable David Caplan, Ontario Minster of Public Infrastructure Renewal and His Worship Toronto Mayor David Miller, officially launched the start of work in the West Don Lands, the first new neighbourhood to be developed as part of waterfront revitalization.

“Today we walk the talk,” Fung said. “The work you see happening here is putting into action the key principles underlying waterfront revitalization—design excellence, sustainable, green development and communities that are attractive and affordable for all Canadians.”

The West Don Lands is a 32-hectare area located east of downtown between Parliament Street and the Don River, and King Street and the rail corridor. This significant undertaking is the result of a major government and interagency collaboration with TWRC being assigned the role of the master developer.

“Great communities are strengthened by their unique public spaces,” said Minister Baird. “This new community highlights the power of intergovernmental cooperation, active citizen participation and commitment to a common goal. Together, we can work to make this initiative a model of accountable regional development.”

“At long last there is action on the waterfront. I am particularly pleased that this development — the first major sustainable community in Toronto in years — is being built on land owned by the Government of Ontario,” said Minister Caplan. “This project will create an accessible, affordable and dynamic community that will attract a wide range of families from diverse economic backgrounds.”

Said Mayor David Miller: “Torontonians are getting what they asked for: action and access to our waterfront. But above all, they are getting a revitalized, clean and green, and liveable waterfront where they can live, work and play and enjoy a quality of life that strengthens our City’s competitive advantage.”

Work that is now underway includes building deconstruction, foundation removal, road construction and environmental remediation. Flood protection construction will start soon with the expansion of CN’s Kingston rail bridge, followed by the start of construction of a low-lying berm on the west side of the Don River at the end of the summer. The Ontario Realty Corporation and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority are partnering with TWRC to carry out this work.

The overall plan for the West Don Lands received City Council approval in May 2005 and calls for:

• 6000 new residences, including 1500 units of affordable rental housing
• 25% of community to be parks and public space including the eight-hectare Don River Park
• A new light rail transit line (LRT) within a five-minute walk of all homes
• Two childcare centres
• Community centre and pool
• Elementary school

Sustainable development is a top priority for West Don Lands development. Importantly, the West Don Lands will be a LEED Gold community, meaning that the Canada Green Building Council must certify that all buildings achieve mandatory sustainability standards including green roofs and high levels of energy efficiency.

Public transit and community facilities will be built early in the development process in rder to ensure that services are available as people move into the West Don Lands.

A former industrial site, the plans for the new West Don Lands neighbourhood grew out of work launched in 1997 by the communty-led West Don Lands Committee, a community coalition of resident, business, environmental and heritage organizations.

“The start of construction brings reality to our dream of knitting this derelict area back into the city. When development is finished, we will have 10,000 new neighbours, a stunning eight-hectare park and strong transportation and design connections to the Don River, the waterfront and Toronto's historic Old Town,” said Cynthia Wilkey, chair, West Don Lands Committee. “This is a real success story for the community and for the consultative process undertaken by TWRC.”

Other major waterfront projects happening in 2006 include continuing the build out of a continuous accessible waterfront promenade, starting construction on the expansion of the Union Station subway platform - the hub for waterfront transit, and completing a new rowing and paddling course in the western beaches so that Toronto can host the World Dragon Boat Championships in August.

The Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto established WRC in 2001 to oversee and lead the renewal of Toronto’s central waterfront.

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Media contacts:

Kristin Jenkins
TWRC
416-214-1479

Robert Makichuk
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
613-957-2391

Wilson Lee
Ontario Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal
Minister’s Office
416-325-8735

Stuart Green
City of Toronto
Mayor's Office
416-338-7119

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