Summit Generated Great Ideas for Toronto Waterfront Revitalization

TORONTO, Ontario -- November 20, 2001 - A clean, healthy Lake Ontario is essential for Toronto's Waterfront Revitalization program. That message came across loud and clear at the 4th Annual Clean Waters Summit hosted by the Waterfront Regeneration Trust, a Toronto-based charitable organization, on Nov. 16th and 17th in Toronto.

More than 150 people, representing 35 community groups along with consultants, government staff and elected officials, gathered to discuss the serious degradation of Toronto's waterfront and watersheds and to make recommendations on priority actions to reduce water pollution and restore green, healthy habitats.

"It's great to see such enthusiastic commitment by concerned individuals and community groups," said Beth Benson, Executive Director of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust. "The participation of so many demonstrates the keen public support and huge potential for collaboration and partnerships to clean up Toronto's waterfront and restore natural habitats."

Participants at the Summit's three interactive workshops discussed community involvement in waterfront revitalization, greening of Toronto's waterfront, and strategies to improve wet weather flow management. Some of their key recommendations included:

Greater information sharing among all the players to coordinate effective clean-up activities.
Creation of a system of parks and habitats that would contribute multiple benefits by "making the green spaces perform environmental functions".
Development of a collaborative approach to implementing the City of Toronto's Wet Weather Flow Management Plan.
Commitment by the City of Toronto and the newly created Waterfront Revitalization Corporation to invest in a clean environment because it will pay dividends in the quality of life for all and business investments.
Mary Gusella, Chair of the Canadian Section of the International Joint Committee (IJC), congratulated the Waterfront Regeneration Trust and its partners on the release of the 2001 progress report, Clean Waters, Healthy Habitats. She noted that the IJC would "review it carefully and share it with other Areas of Concern around the Great Lakes." She added that: "waterfront revitalization, in parallel with remedial action on water quality, is a viable model for other communities in the Great Lakes" and urged participants to "move forward with vigorous implementation."

During the lively and informative exchange of ideas at the Clean Waters Summit, participants also heard from three guest speakers from Boston, where the Boston Harbor clean-up has been an important prerequisite for waterfront redevelopment. Bruce Berman, Director of the citizens' group Save the Harbor/Save the Bay, emphasized that "people want to live and work near the water, but first they want it to be clean and healthy."

Awards of Excellence were given to eleven community groups, schools, businesses and local agencies for their efforts in improving water quality, habitat and outreach and education. Each winner has contributed to the RAP goals of fostering a diverse, healthy and integrated ecosystem and improving local watersheds to be, not only aesthetically pleasing, but safe for swimming and fishing too.

A Summit Bulletin summarizing the two day event will be released by the Waterfront Regeneration Trust within two weeks. It will be provided to all the participants, as well as the City of Toronto and Robert Fung, Chair of the Waterfront Revitalization Corporation. It is hoped that the recommendations of the Summit participants can be incorporated into a range of activities, including the Wet Weather Flow Management Plan, the finalization of the City's waterfront plan, the design of new parks and corridors, and the City's business plan for waterfront revitalization.

During the past 10 years, the Waterfront Regeneration Trust has worked with more than 30 Lake Ontario waterfront communities to link environmental regeneration with economic revitalization. It has facilitated Lake Ontario Greenway and Waterfront Trail projects for more than 90 projects along the Lake Ontario shoreline.

For more information, or to arrange interviews, call:

Leslie Hetherington, Tel: 416-724-7677 (416-948-7160)
or Stephanie Bolton, Tel: 416-737-6935.

Waterfront Regeneration Trust
207 Queens Quay West, Ste. 403
Toronto, ON M5J 1A7

www.waterfronttrust.com

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