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Woodbine Casino Expansion Timeline

 
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Expanded Gaming at Woodbine Racetrack - Follow Up Page 3 of 5 As of February 2019, the CBA remains in good standing. To date, the City, One Toronto Gaming, OLG, and several local community partners, have built a constructive and positive relationship which has allowed each requirement of the CBA to move forward to achieve several milestones. In the meantime, the new station in the Woodbine-Highway 27 area is expected to draw approximately 14,700 individuals using it regularly for their commute. Casino Expansion Well on Its Way. Recently the Metrolinx board had to consider ways of approaching this new project and discussing the strategies for its future development. From concept renderings, ideas for the Woodbine Racetrack Development have evolved into rezoning and site plan approval submissions to the City of Toronto from the Woodbine Entertainment Group. The future of the 684-acre site has been highly discussed, with early concepts considered by the Design Review Panel in late 2017.

On Thursday, April 26 2018

After over ten years of advocacy by Rexdale residents, organizations, and allies across the City, Toronto City Council has approved a significant agreement spelling out enforceable benefits for the community from the expanded casino at Woodbine.

This is an unprecedented win for the community! We have raised the floor for Community Benefits Agreements (CBAs) in Canada.

We thank City Staff who worked hard to deliver on the promise of a CBA despite the constraints put on them by the 21 conditions approved by City Council in 2015. In the end, many City councilors and the Mayor showed incredible leadership in raising the floor so the community can benefit from:

  • Investment of $5 million into the development of a child care centre to support the workers and community in accessing the new jobs.
  • Community and labour involvement in the oversight and monitoring of the success of those projects, along with more frequent and detailed public reporting to ensure that the targets are met.
  • Hard targets requiring that 40% of new hires come from the local community and equity-seeking groups from across the City, that 50% of the new jobs created will be full time, and that 10% of the apprentices and tradespeople working on construction come from local and diverse communities.
  • Requirements for a minimum 10% of annual operational procurement will be through local suppliers or diverse suppliers, in order to support local businesses.
Without all your support through sending letters and hundreds of petitions to City Council and the sheer persistence and organizing from key community leaders and allies, this win would not have not been possible. We thank Unite Here Local 75 and Community Organizing for Responsible Development for reaching out to the TCBN to carry the torch and to TCBN's Board and membership for accepting and supporting the Rexdale Rising campaign.
On the ground we would like to thank ACORN, the Rexdale Hub and the dedicated staff of the TCBN, particularly Kumsa Baker, our Rexdale Rising Campaign Manager and his team of incredible local community and union leaders who did the heavy lifting. Too many to name, but we will be organizing a community event soon to celebrate our win and discuss next steps of the implementation phase. Stay tuned.
Please also join us in thanking the leadership of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council, Atkinson Foundation and the United Way Toronto and York Region for their expertise and credibility uplifting the community’s voice in these high stakes negotiations.
A timeline - how the community won a CBA in 10 steps after more than 10 years:
  1. November 2006: Developers held first public meeting to introduce Woodbine Live, an entertainment/retail/residential development which they claimed would create thousands of jobs. To ensure real outcomes for residents, a community-labour coalition led by UNITE Here Local 75 and Community Organizing for Responsible Development (CORD) put the developers on notice as to their intentions for a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA).
  2. July 15 and 16, 2007: City Council gives the approval for WoodbineLive! but the development project never gets off the ground.
  3. July 7, 2015: City Council approved expansion of gaming at Woodbine Casino providing the Operator satisfies 21 conditions, which includes community benefits.
  4. August 8, 2017: the Ontario Lottery and Gaming selected Ontario Gaming GTA LP as the Operator for the Woodbine Casino.
  5. September 23, 2017: TCBN’s membership agreed to merge with CORD and lead the community’s advocacy for a CBA on the Woodbine Casino.
  6. October 18, 2017: Great Canadian Gaming (GCG) cancelled meeting TCBN initiated to discuss the community’s proposal for a comprehensive Community Benefits Agreement. TCBN reached out to City staff to solicit their support to advance the community’s agenda with GCG.
  7. March 21 2018: City Staff held community consultation in Rexdale. With TCBN’s support, approximately 150 people attended.
  8. April 4, 2018: TCBN and resident leaders deputed on planning issues at Etobicoke York Community Council.
  9. April 17, 2018: TCBN, resident leaders and allies deputed on community benefits conditions at Executive Committee.
  10. April 25-26, 2018: City Council debates Community Benefits Agreement conditions proposed by staff and additional motions put forward by councilors on behalf of the community

Casino Woodbine is one of Toronto’s beloved gambling places first used as a racetrack in 1874. In 1956, after more than 80 years, it became an official racetrack for thoroughbred racing and has held prominent races such as the King’s Plate. The property has become a staple of the Toronto community today and has slowly expanded and updated its technology.

Casino Woodbine has a remarkable selection of more than 100 action-packed table games and 3,500 slot machines that you can play 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Table games include roulette, baccarat, and blackjack. Visitor numbers range from 25,000 to 30,000 for racetrack events, and these numbers increase every year.

Woodbine Casino Expansion Timeline

Woodbine is also available online for those who don’t want to converse with one another in person, but table games and slot machines are also popular at this casino. Virtual roulette and stadium gaming are fun choices, and memberships are available for frequent visitors. This echoes the general sentiment on a number of land-based casinos which also offer their games online, delivering their promise of taking the games closer to the customers.

Casino Woodbine Plans Expansion

As the popularity of Woodbine has grown over the years, the racetrack has continued to expand. Its ownership has partnered with Metrolinx and Queen’s Park to build an expansion in the Etobicoke neighbourhood. The expansion has an estimated cost of $75 to $90 million and is expected to be a major tourist attraction for Toronto as well as a revenue generator and major employer. Funds were recently appropriated by the One Toronto Gaming partnership. Growth potential is considered to be enormous: Woodbine already employs 6,000 workers each day and is expected to hire another 5,000 with the expansion.

What Types of New Venues Are Part of the Expansion?

Woodbine offers many complimentary services for its patrons, including shuttle services from the Toronto Pearson International Airport and nearby hotels. However, as part of the expansion, the Metrolinx public transportation will reach the area, which has the potential to bring in more visitors.

Woodbine will diversify its offerings to include cultural destinations, food and dining, office space, shopping, and plans to add residential living areas. The goal for Woodbine Casino is to become not only a hub of activity for gaming and gambling, but also to be a destination for everyone visiting the Toronto area. Blueprints show that the expansion is making the effort to retain the racetrack ambiance and increase the overall architecture for the area. Walkways, additional parking in a seven-level garage, and updates will allow the casino to resemble a city within a city.

What Benefits Does the Expansion Bring to the Community?

When the Toronto City Council approved the plan to expand, it required that 40% of new hires come from the local area. The increased employment will be great for Toronto, and the additional revenue generated by visitors will ensure that Toronto’s economy continues to thrive. Due to the influx of visitors, the expansion will include an area for child care services in a new child care zone. This expansion will be used by casino visitors as well as employees at Casino Woodbine, allowing visitors and employees to work or play while their children are receiving care.

Woodbine Casino Expansion Timeline Creator

The expansion, although somewhat controversial, will develop an area of Toronto that is near the airport and could transform Toronto’s economy and nightlife. The changes will happen in several phases, gradually transforming the area and commerce of the community. Eventually, Woodbine will introduce a live entertainment facility and hotel tower with 12 stories and nearly 550 rooms, as well as retail buildings ranging from one to three stories high.

The updates have been long-awaited by developers, casino attendees, and Toronto’s community for many years, and it is an exciting time for Ontario. Whether you’re excited to work at Woodbine or planning your next weekend getaway here, be sure to keep abreast of new developments and updates as they occur. The new retail, dining, bars, and game areas have the potential to supply an unlimited amount of fun for Toronto and Casino Woodbine.

Woodbine casino expansion timeline of events

Woodbine Casino Expansion Timeline Template

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