For more than 130 years, Woodbine Entertainment Group has been part of the fabric of life in Toronto. Now, we’re calling upon our thousands of horse racing fans, patrons and community partners to take part in the City of Toronto’s casino consultations – and let city council know that you support the long-term future of Woodbine Racetrack, by supporting it as a casino location in Toronto.
This month, the city is conducting a consultation process to gather the public’s views and opinions on possible locations for a casino in Toronto. Among them is Woodbine Racetrack in northwest Toronto – in the OLG’s so-called C2 gaming zone, which is separate from the C1 zone where any potential downtown casino would be located.
Why Woodbine? For one, it’s an established site for successful gaming; in fact, with its current slots facilities, it’s already home to the largest gaming operation in the province. One with plenty of room to grow its facilities in northwest Toronto.
But there’s more to Woodbine than a world-class entertainment complex.
It’s also a major creator of jobs – 7,500 in Toronto alone – and a pillar of the Ontario horse racing and breeding industry, which employs more than 55,000 people. Woodbine is a valued partner in the city, one that works closely with law enforcement and Toronto community organizations for decades to ensure safe, responsible gaming. And it gives back to the community – millions of dollars to local charities and causes to help make Toronto a better place to live, and millions more to government in revenue sharing and taxes.
Now, Woodbine needs your help. A casino at Woodbine – with expanded gaming facilities including slots and table games – will ensure thousands of Torontonians will have secure and meaningful work for years to come. It will let Woodbine continue to support communities throughout the province, where horse racing and breeding are a vital part of the local economy. And it will preserve and grow one of Toronto’s most dynamic and valued entertainment venues – one that has been contributing to the life of the city from its current location since 1956.
City Consultation Process
The City of Toronto has announced the details of its public Toronto Casino Consultation strategy. For the month of January 2013, the public will be invited to share their views and opinions on a casino in the City.
The consultation process will gather input, including the public’s views and opinions on a casino generally, on possible locations for a casino, and what the public would like Council to consider when making a decision on this matter. City staff will write a report on the results of the consultation, which will go back to the Executive Committee in March.
As a customer, as a community partner, as an employee or as a racing fan, you know what Woodbine means to Toronto – and what a casino at Woodbine will mean for Toronto’s future.
What Can You Do?
Support a casino at Woodbine through the City’s online feedback form, available at https://surveys.dpra.com/casino/CasinoSurvey.aspx before January 25, 2013.
As well, the City has scheduled 5 community open houses which begin this week.
Wednesday January 9
City Hall Rotunda
Gymnasium
Toronto City Hall
100 Queen Street West
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Saturday January 12
North York Memorial Hall
5110 Yonge Street
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Monday, January 14
Etobicoke Olympium
590 Rathburn Road
6:00 pm. – 9:00 pm
Thursday January 17
Scarborough Civic Centre
Rotunda
Borough Drive
6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Saturday January 19
Bluma Appel Salon
Reference Library
789 Yonge Street
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
City Council needs to hear from you loud and clear: A casino at Woodbine is a responsible choice.
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