Proposed Scarborough Centre Will Be Largest Ever Investment In Amateur Sports HistoryToronto: Funding partners for the TORONTO 2015 Pan American/Parapan American Games officially broke ground on Sept.27 for the Pan Am and Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House. The Government of Canada, Province of Ontario, City of Toronto and the University of Toronto Scarborough joined together with the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games Organizing Committee (TO2015) to mark this milestone for the largest sport new-build for the Games and the largest investment ever in Canadian amateur sport history.
The university community, local residents, neighbourhood school children, Canadian high-performance athletes and Lead Partner for the Games, CIBC, celebrated with a formal program followed by a community fair next to the site, featuring displays, music, information booths and games.
Located at the University of Toronto Scarborough (UTSC) campus, the state-of-the-art multipurpose athletic centre will host swimming, diving, synchronized swimming, fencing and portions of modern pentathlon for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games. Parapan Am sports will be announced in the coming days. During Games time, the Pan Am and Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House will be presented by CIBC whose name will title the facility that summer. Following the summer of 2015, the facility, owned by the University of Toronto and the City of Toronto, will take on a permanent new life serving university students and local residents.
“It’s an exciting day for us, our partners and everyone here in Scarborough to break ground on this amazing centre,” said Ian Troop, Chief Executive Officer, TO2015.”Not only does this site represent the largest infrastructure investment ever made in Canadian amateur sport, it will also be a wonderful place where generations of students and local families can gather together as a community and access top-notch athletic facilities as a living legacy of the ‘People’s Games.'”
The Aquatics Centre and Field House will create 150 construction jobs and is the first of five brand new athletic facilities being built in the region to host the TORONTO 2015 Games. As well, a number of existing facilities will be upgraded across the Greater Golden Horseshoe to support the Games.
An important legacy of the Games is that all facilities being built will be universally accessible. The overall project costs for this facility are anticipated to come in at $205 million, well below the estimated budget of $249 million. Construction of the complex will be completed during summer 2014.
“Our Government is a proud supporter of the Toronto 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games and has committed funding of up to $500 million to help support sport infrastructure requirements, legacy initiatives, and the cost of essential federal services associated with staging the Games,” said the Honourable Bal Gosal, Minister of State (Sport). “As part of this commitment, the Government of Canada is very pleased to announce funding for the Pan Am and Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House and the Canadian Sport Institute Ontario, which will be home to aquatic and fencing events during the 2015 Pan and Parapan American Games.”
“The McGuinty government is proud of bringing the 2015 Pan and Parapan Am Games to Ontario. The Aquatics Centre and Field House will be the largest new venue for the ‘People’s Games’ and it will be an important community facility for residents and athletes alike,” said Charles Sousa, Ontario Minister responsible for the Pan and Parapan American Games. “This is a great example of how the Games are creating economic benefit today and a legacy of community and sport infrastructure for future generations.”
“As Host City for the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games, we look forward to welcoming athletes from across the Americas to this new state-of the-art aquatic centre and field house,” said Toronto Mayor, Rob Ford. “This world-class facility will spur economic benefits and leave a lasting legacy of healthy living and recreational opportunities for Toronto residents long after the Games have ended.”
“CIBC is proud to support the Pan Am and Parapan Am Aquatics Centre and Field House presented by CIBC, which will not only be a world-class training and competition venue, but will serve as a lasting legacy for the whole community to use and enjoy,” said Richard Nesbitt, Group Head, Wholesale, International and Technology and Operations, CIBC. “As the Lead Partner of the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, CIBC’s vision for TORONTO 2015 is to help inspire a generation of young people and contribute to stronger communities. This facility will give our youth a place where they can train, play, gather and compete.”