GTA Pan Am Games Update: Legacy on Time

NRU
February 26, 2014
By Edward LaRusic

Despite inclement weather at the start of the year, GTA venues being constructed for the Pan Am Games are on time and on budget for the opening in July 2015.

Venues are under construction in five GTA municipalities - Ajax, Caledon, Hamilton, Markham, and Milton (See sidebar for details) - as well, numerous transportation projects are underway to help support the games.

Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games Organizing Committee spokesperson Teddy Katz said that projects for the games are proceeding well.

“I’m under the understanding that things are going relatively well, especially compared to other multi-sport games [that are] a year and a bit out.”

Katz said that there will be both social and economic legacies left in the wake of the games, thanks to the 20,000 volunteers and close to 26,000 new and indirect jobs that have and will be created. More importantly however, will be the sport legacy that is left behind.

“Ontario has been somewhat lagging in the past in terms of its sport infrastructure. When you look at what a province like Ontario was offering to athletes for places to train, it was not doing well compared to other places like Australia, which had numerous Olympic-sized pools. Ontario had two,” Katz said.

Infrastructure Ontario communications advisor Terrance Foran spoke to NRU about the Hamilton Pan Am Stadium and the Markham Pan Am Centre. He said that the Hamilton stadium is “more than 55 per cent complete,” while the Markham Centre is “more than 69 per cent” complete based on the construction schedules.

While the storm delayed the Hamilton Pan Am Stadium by about two weeks, Foran said that both projects are on budget, and “the contractors are confident they will meet their deadlines.”

Ajax project manager Catherine Bridgeman told NRU that construction of the Ajax Pan Am Ballpark is also on budget, but three weeks behind schedule due to the poor weather.

However, it is anticipated to open by about August, well ahead of the games. The new ballpark is actually a refurbishment of the existing Ajax Sportsplex.

Caledon parks and recreation senior project manager Marc Seguin said that plans for the Pan Am Equestrian Park are on track and the project is budget. An existing equestrian park is being retrofit with a new pavilion, main viewing area, judges’ tower and septic system.

Additionally, Caledon council has approved the construction of a $2-million community centre next to the Equestrian Park.

The Town of Caledon will be picking up the additional costs for the centre, which will be used as an operating and meeting space.

Milton community services director Jennifer Reynolds expects “substantial competition in August” at the Milton Pan Am/Parapan Am Velodrome. She adds that the “one of a kind in Canada” project is currently on budget. The velodrome will include a three lane walking track, a fitness centre, multipurpose room and a studio.

On the transportation front, Ministry of Transportation communications person Bob Nichols told NRU that while there is no infrastructure being specifically built for the Pan Am Games, a number of projects will make transportation easier and all are on schedule:

• Brampton Zum, a BRT service on Queen Street (completed)
• York VIVA Bus Rapid Transit expansion along Highway 7 between Yonge Street and Warden Avenue (2014 completion date)
• Implementation of PRESTO regional fare cards across the GTHA
• All-day, two-way service along the Lakeshore GO Transit line (completed)
• Highway extensions - Highway 404 from Green Lane to Ravenshoe Road and Highway 407 East to Harmony Road - and widenings - Highway 7 from Brock Road to Highway 12 and Highway 406 between Port Robinson and East Main Street.

Katz said that these facilities will be for more than just the athletes.

“As a result of the games, there’s all kinds of new training facilities. And these aren’t just facilities for high-performance athletes. One of the great things that has happened as a result of organizing these games, is that we’ve gone to communities and we’ve asked them to take ownership in the venues. We’re working with 15 different municipalities, and part of the arrangement is that they have to take ownership in the facilities for when the games are over.”

The Pan Am Games run from July 10 to July 26, 2015, and the Parapan Am Games run from August 7 to August 15, 2015.

Pan Am/Parapan Am Projects

Ajax Pan Am Ballpark

• Host to baseball and softball events
• Four stadiums, two with 5,000 seats, and two with 1,200 seats
• Scheduled completion is July 2014, at a cost of $9-million.
• Construction is approximately three weeks behind

Caledon Pan Am Equestrian Park

• Host to equestrian events
• The park will have 3,000 spectator seats
• Scheduled completion is June 2014, at a cost of $11-million.
• A new edition to the project, a community centre, will add an additional $2-million to the costs

Hamilton Pan Am Stadium

• Host to soccer events
• The stadium will have 22,500 permanent seats, with 40,000 temporary seats used for the games
• The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will move into the stadium, after the games
• Scheduled completion is July 2014, at a cost of $145-million

Markham Pan Am/Parapan Am Centre

• Host to badminton, table tennis and water polo events
• Scheduled completion is July 2014, at a cost of $78-million

Milton Pan Am/Parapan Am Velodrome

• Host to cycling and track events
• The stadium will have 2,500 permanent seats, with 1,000 temporary seats used for the games
• Scheduled completion is September 2014, at a cost of $56-million