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Message from the Chair of the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place
I am delighted to begin my tenure as Chair of the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place. I come into this position with the knowledge that the Board of Governors and the Exhibition Place team demonstrate a solid foundation of experience and operational success in the management of this majestic 192-acre waterfront campus.
It is critical for the Board to maintain Exhibition Place as Toronto’s key venue for public celebration, large events, festivals, and community events, while protecting its parkland, historical assets and core businesses. We must ensure that the needs of our major tenants and signature public events such as the Canadian National Exhibition are addressed and capitalize on business and development opportunities. Moving into the future, we will realize new growth in the exhibition and convention markets for the award-winning Direct Energy Centre and new Allstream Centre; provide excellence in customer service; strengthen Exhibition Place as a year-round destination; and ensure our continued financial success. These are but a few of the tasks that face us in this Term. I look forward to lead the Board’s efforts in bringing positive results to each of them.
Over my Term I look forward to the realization of several projects and events including the new Hotel development, located adjacent to Direct Energy Centre and Allstream Centre, due to break-ground in 2012. This spectacular hotel project will provide much needed accommodation and amenities for the tens of thousands of convention and exhibition delegates that visit Exhibition Place each year. The resort-style hotel, owned by HKH Hotels, is slated to open in 2014. Feasibility studies are now underway for a proposed convention centre expansion of additional meeting rooms and exhibit space in Direct Energy Centre. I am particularly excited to lead the Board of Governors as we embark upon the planning and execution of the 2015 Pan Am Games. Exhibition Place has been selected as a major athletic and visitor site for the Pan Am Games, and in 2015 the world’s attention will once again be focused on Exhibition Place. With the recent conversion to natural turf at BMO Field, this prized Exhibition Place venue will be integral to the Pan Am athletic and visitor experience. I am confident that our proven ability and operational success as the recent host of the International Media Centre for the 2010 G8/G20 Summit reinforced Exhibition Place’s world-class reputation as a leading venue for business and events.
The Board and I will continue to focus on sustainability and the environment with a commitment to cease our reliance on the Provincial hydro grid, become energy self-sufficient and continue to increase our waste diversion efforts. I am pleased to report that Exhibition Place exceeded last year’s Waste Diversion target and has achieved 85.06% diversion from landfill (2010 target was 80%) and we have again been conferred the “Platinum Waste Minimization Award” by the Recycling Council of Ontario for our achievement in this area. Through Exhibition Place’s “GREENSmart Program” we promote and encourage our partners, clients, and visitors to be part of the sustainability solution. Sustainability projects on our site include the Solar Photovoltaic project (Horse Palace); Tri-Generation heating and cooling (Direct Energy Centre); Allstream Centre built to achieve LEED Silver Certification; Green Roof (atop the Horse Palace); Geothermal heating (Press Building);Wind Turbine; and Rainwater Harvesting (Allstream Centre).
Exhibition Place is a significant public asset on Toronto’s waterfront and hosts over 5.3 million visitors a year. I personally invite you to visit Exhibition Place and enjoy our year-round events, festivals and activities.
We look forward to seeing you!
Mark Grimes was elected City Councillor for Ward 6, Etobicoke-Lakeshore on November 10, 2003 and re-elected on November 13, 2006, and October 25, 2010. He is proud to say that he is a man rooted in the Etobicoke-Lakeshore community. Before entering politics, Mark worked as a Professional Trader for a major financial firms for 13 years on Bay St. He is also the President and Owner of a logistics business, which he runs with his brothers in South Etobicoke.
Mark also sits on the Board of many other organizations, including the Toronto Zoo, Tourism Toronto, Hockey Hall of Fame, and he is the City's lead on the 2015 Toronto Pan Am/Para Pan Games.
Councillor Mark Grimes
Chair, Board of Governors of Exhibition Place
