scooter
03-25-2009, 03:11 PM
TORONTO STAR - MARCH 24, 2009
City gun policy forces sportsmen's show to move
Donovan Vincent - City hall bureau
http://www.thestar.com/article/607362
The Toronto Sportsmen's Show is moving from Exhibition Place to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, a provincial facility, because of a city decision to ban the sale and display of firearms at the event.
A show organizer confirmed today the decision is related to the city's policy."We looked at all opportunities and our options for future growth. We made a decision to move to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre,'' said Ray Sriubiskis, vice-president of the Canadian National Sportsmen's Shows, which runs the event. The event featured 400 companies in 2008 that attracted almost 122,000 visitors, the show's website states.
Sriubiskis said the city's new policy forbidding firearms at the show "played a role'' in that decision. The contract with the Convention Centre, a provincially owned facility, was signed on Monday, Sriubiskis said. "It's a great facility with regards to accessibility for out-of-town travellers.
The TTC, GO, Union Station, are all right there,'' he added.
Discussions with alternate facilities have been going on for "some time,''
he said. As the Star first reported last week, the future of the popular show as a tenant at Exhibition Place was in jeopardy after the city quietly decided last fall to ban the sale and display of firearms at the show.
Deputy mayor and Exhibition Place chair Joe Pantalone said last week the decision had been shared with Sportsmen's Show organizers at that time. But Sriubiskis last week denied any knowledge of the city's move. The city took the steps to conform with Mayor David Miller's ban on the promotion of firearms on city property. A Scarborough rifle club at a city community centre, and a gun club at Union Station were evicted last year as a result of Miller's ban.
City gun policy forces sportsmen's show to move
Donovan Vincent - City hall bureau
http://www.thestar.com/article/607362
The Toronto Sportsmen's Show is moving from Exhibition Place to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, a provincial facility, because of a city decision to ban the sale and display of firearms at the event.
A show organizer confirmed today the decision is related to the city's policy."We looked at all opportunities and our options for future growth. We made a decision to move to the Metro Toronto Convention Centre,'' said Ray Sriubiskis, vice-president of the Canadian National Sportsmen's Shows, which runs the event. The event featured 400 companies in 2008 that attracted almost 122,000 visitors, the show's website states.
Sriubiskis said the city's new policy forbidding firearms at the show "played a role'' in that decision. The contract with the Convention Centre, a provincially owned facility, was signed on Monday, Sriubiskis said. "It's a great facility with regards to accessibility for out-of-town travellers.
The TTC, GO, Union Station, are all right there,'' he added.
Discussions with alternate facilities have been going on for "some time,''
he said. As the Star first reported last week, the future of the popular show as a tenant at Exhibition Place was in jeopardy after the city quietly decided last fall to ban the sale and display of firearms at the show.
Deputy mayor and Exhibition Place chair Joe Pantalone said last week the decision had been shared with Sportsmen's Show organizers at that time. But Sriubiskis last week denied any knowledge of the city's move. The city took the steps to conform with Mayor David Miller's ban on the promotion of firearms on city property. A Scarborough rifle club at a city community centre, and a gun club at Union Station were evicted last year as a result of Miller's ban.