The Journey Continues...

I have been reflecting on a great day of insightful discussions at a Waterfront Summit Event held earlier this week at the Toronto Region Board of Trade , and our own history on the Waterfront at PortsToronto . In 1911, the Toronto Harbour Commission was formed to address the challenges and opportunities of the waterfront. At that time, our mandate was the creation of a mixed-use waterfront that included recreational, commercial and industrial purposes. I think we succeeded.

This is still our journey. More than a century later, these principles remain at the forefront of our approach to business as the owners and operators of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport , the Port of Toronto, the Outer Harbour Marina and other landholding along the waterfront. PortsToronto envisions a dynamic and awe-inspiring Toronto waterfront with better and more sustainable transportation solutions, mobilizing the harbour to create a multi-modal transportation hub, which enables commercial, recreational and industrial uses to thrive in balance. We are reimagining transportation and changing the narrative to use the word “and” rather than “or” when describing the myriad of uses and approaches to the waterfront.

?As we heard from Ontario Premier Doug Ford during his opening remarks – “We need a mixed-use waterfront where people can live, work and play, which has convenient transit options. This includes Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport ” The airport is an economic driver and a gateway for connectivity and prosperity for the Toronto region. We need economic engines like Billy Bishop Airport and the marine Port of Toronto to unlock and then support the world-class waterfront and global city we want to see.

This concept was reiterated by economist and urbanist Richard Florida . “Economic generators are front and centre in what we need to do as a city, and the Airport is an economic generator”.

We also need a cohesive, collaborative vision and approach for the Toronto Waterfront that embraces and optimizes our existing waterfront assets and looks to build future ones. Waterfront partners including Waterfront Toronto , CreateTO , Harbourfront Centre , The Waterfront BIA and PortsToronto are already working closely and collaboratively to move this vision forward in the way that will enhance quality of life, create a sense of place and power the revitalization and future of the downtown for everyone.

Thank you to the Toronto Region Board of Trade and The Waterfront BIA for hosting this gathering and important exchange of ideas and thought leadership. This is just the beginning of a new vision and enthusiasm for having the conversations and doing the work to create a waterfront that can rival and maybe even surpass Sydney, London, New York and Singapore.

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