Caledon, ON – The Town of Caledon, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) and the Equestrian Management Group (EMG) were notified on March 9, 2009 by the 2015 Pan American / Para Pan Games Bid Corporation that the Caledon Equestrian Park was added to the Bid Corporation’s venue plans.
Since 1986, EMG has operated the Caledon Equestrian Park, in a public/private partnership with the Town and TCRA. If Toronto’s bid to host the 2015 Pan American / Para Pan Games is successful, securing the equestrian events will further illustrate the strength of this affiliation, which has, historically, brought substantial tourism to the area and created numerous employment opportunities in Caledon. “The Town and our partners, TRCA and EMG, have always been proud of our solid reputation in the equestrian community and we are honoured to be added to the Bid Committee’s venue plan,” said Mayor Marolyn Morrison.
“The possibility of hosting the equestrian events for the Games would leave Caledon with a legacy of a world-class facility built on public lands. An investment in the Caledon Equestrian Park would contribute to the area economically and to the long-term viability of the provincial initiative to create the Greenbelt,” Mayor Morrison noted.
The Caledon Equestrian Park has played host to numerous prestigious equestrian events, including Olympic Trials, World Equestrian Games Trials, Pan Am Games Trials, FEI World Cup events and hundreds of National Tournaments for all disciplines.
“We are thrilled and honoured that the Committee has included the Caledon Equestrian Park in their bid as the venue for the equestrian events for the 2015 Pan Am / Para Pan Am Games. We, along with our partners, the Town and the TRCA, believe strongly that the upgrades provided for the games will serve the community and the sport for many years to come. It is a wonderful opportunity to realize the full potential of the park” said Craig Collins Managing Partner of EMG. “The support that we have received over the last many years from the athletes and horse enthusiasts is incredible, and now we have the opportunity to provide world class facilities for their benefit.”
The bid proposal for the Caledon Equestrian Park included endorsements from Olympic Individual Gold Medallist and current number-one ranked rider in the world, Eric Lamaze and his fellow Olympic Team Silver Medalists Ian Millar, Jill Henselwood and Mac Cone.
Provincially, it is estimated that the games will create 15,000 jobs, and bring more than 10,000 athletes and officials, and 250,000 tourists to Ontario.
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