Transport Canada Threatens to Extinguish Public Waterfront Recreation in the Toronto Outer Harbour

Nestled within one square mile of waterfront land is Toronto's best kept secret, Toronto's Outer Harbour. There you can find 9 water sport clubs that provide waterfront access to over 2000 members, supporting rowing, windsurfers, dinghies, sailboats, all the way up to 45 foot multihulls - in all about 820 boats.

These nine clubs offer to the public community sailing and rowing - three of the sailing clubs provide boats for members, i.e. you do not have to own your own boat, as a member you have access to a variety of small sailboats that generally range from 10 to 16 feet in length. Five of the other clubs provide affordable boat accomodation, each club has their own personality geared towards boat type or sizing, ranging from windsurfers, dinghies, monohulls and multihulls. Hanlan Boat Club offers affordable rowing and sculling.

Each of these clubs are non-profit organizations, run by the members, practicing the principles of affordability, community outreach and community involvement.

This little paradise is being threatened.

There is tremendous interest in reshaping the Toronto Outer Harbour Port area as a result of the Proposed 2008 Olympic Bid and the proposed plans put forward by Transport Canada.

The facilities needed to host the 2008 olympics displace the Toronto Port Authority. This means that either the port is eliminated, scaled back, or moved to a different location.

Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid has setup a series of meetings called 'Neighbourhood Working Group Meetings' to describe the waterfront planning and to obtain feedback from the public.

On Wednesday, February 21st 2001, a 'Neighbourhood Working Group Meeting' was held regarding sailing and recreational sports in the Outer Harbour.

At this meeting the message was clear: the community wants to retain the existing recreational facilities in the outer harbour and not relocate the port to this area. The Outer Harbour Sailing Federation will remain in its current location, essentially unaffected by the Olympic venues and infrastructures required.

However, it is early in the planning stages: if the 2008 Toronto Olympic bid is successful, a new Olympic Planning Committee will be created that will make the final decisions that will affect the Outer Harbour.
Vigilance on the part of OHSF must be maintained.

The International Olympic Committee's final choice of a host city for the 2008 Olympics is expected later this summer.

References
www.outerharbour.net - Friends of the Outer Harbour
www.outerharbour.net - OHSF
www.to-2008.com
Transport Minister Report On Port Of Toronto Consultations

Photo provided by Andy Smith