IGLA 2014 TORONTO

Bid Package

Prepared for: IGLA AGM, Cleveland, OH

Prepared by: Downtown Aquatics Corporation

July 16, 2014

IGLA 2016 TORONTO

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WELCOME BACK TO CANADA! – REBIENVENUE AU CANADA! Toronto’s Downtown Aquatics Corporation is pleased to submit its bid to host IGLA 2016, bringing the event back to Canada for the first time since 2001, and only the third time since its inception. Toronto is a vibrant, diverse and welcoming city; almost anything you can imagine can be found within its borders. We invite participants to come for IGLA 2016, but to experience so much more! From the CN Tower, one of the Modern Wonders of the World, the Niagara Falls, one of the world’s natural wonders, the Golden Horseshoe has it all. Oh, and Toronto also has world class sporting facilities which will be the back-drop for an amazing experience during IGLA 2016. TEAM BACKGROUND AND EXPERIENCE

Toronto’s IGLA bid is spearheaded by the Downtown Aquatics Corporation (DAC). The DAC is a not-for-profit,

volunteer-run organization, incorporated in the year 2000 and coordinates the activities of its three component

clubs, Triggerfish Water Polo (est. 2001), Breathless Sychronized Swimming (est. 2007), and Triggerfish Swim

(est. 2010). Through these clubs, the DAC strives to promote aquatic sports in Toronto in the LGBTQ

communities.

DAC hosted IGLA in 2001, and thanks to that experience, aquatics in the LGBTQ community has

flourished. For instance, Toronto did not have LGBT water polo team prior to hosting IGLA, however a few

enterprising players took on the enormous challenge of keeping the momentum going and starting a club from

scratch. While the Toronto Triggerfish initially spent years as an also-ran in IGLA tournaments, it has thorough

tenacity and dedication, become a contender at international tournaments, winning a bronze at IGLA

Copenhagen in 2009. Similarly, one tenacious member of DAC also began training on his own with various

city programs to learn the basics of synchronized swimming, which then later became Breathless (Silver

medalists: Washington; Copenhagen). Most recently, Triggerfish Swim was born in time for IGLA Hawaii

(2010) so that DAC members would be able to compete in a variety of swim events.

Toronto is undoubtedly the most multicultural and multi-ethnic city in the world, with over 50% of its populace

made up of immigrants which is reflected in the membership of DAC. The Triggerfish in particular consists of

almost 100 members hailing from five continents (and speaking innumerable languages).

Over the years, DAC has emerged as a pillar in the LGBTQ community, promoting health, community spirit,

and internationalism in conjunction with other sporting teams and organizations. The team camaraderie among

DAC members is world-renown, partly due to the philosophy of inclusiveness: the team takes new members

irrespective of ability, and turns them into confident and passionate water polo players and swimmers.

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Members of DAC have been involved in the organization of water polo tournaments and swim meets for a

number of years, most notably, the annual “Polopalooza” tournament. DAC is hosted Polopalooza 12: “Polo

Vortex” in April of this year, which attracted participants from Boston, New York, Montreal, Washington DC,

Atlanta and London, UK.

In a word, the DAC is a well-run and well-known member of IGLA and is ready to take up the mantle and put on

a fabulous world championship.

EVENT ORGANIZERS

DAC will naturally be responsible for the coordination of all the events, but will also draw upon the expertise of other sporting organizations in the city for support and advice as needed:

i. Diving - Dive Toronto is headed by Mark Rourke, two- time Olympic Diving finalist. Dive Toronto has agreed to assist with this competition;

ii. Synchro - Irene Marcoux has been involved in synchronized swimming for over 25 years, and has coached various masters teams around the world;

iii. Water polo – Christi Bardecki is a veteran of Canada’s national women’s water polo team having

won several medals over six years. She has also served as assitant coach to the Canadian youth national team and head coach of Team Ontario ;

iv. Swimming – Brandon Roesgen is a veteran swimmer, having competed at the local, provincial,

national and international levels over a 13-year career. He is presently a masters level swimmer and active member of the Toronto Triggerfish.

FACILITIES

The competition is scheduled to take place at the Etobicoke Olympium, which is undergoing a major renovation in advance of the 2015 Pan Am Games. The renovations include a new competition pool, and upgraded dive tower, and a renovated and redesigned lobby space.

The facility will act as the training site for diving, swimming, synchro and water polo in 2015. As such, the Olympium is well suited to IGLA requirements. The facility includes a 50m pool which will be configured to allow for simultaneous short course heats in swimming, as well as a 1 and 3m springboards, and a 10m dive tower.

While we are confident the Etobicoke facility is sufficient to host IGLA 2016, we are still in negotiations with the city of Toronto to host the event at the Pan Am Aquatic Centre which is presently under construction. Scheduled for completion in late-2014, the complex will consist of a 6,000-seat aquatics arena with two Olympic-size swimming pools and a diving cylinder with three diving platform heights (3, 7.5 and 10 metres) and a dry diving training centre will be the only aquatics facility in the area that meets international competition standards and will become the first facility with a warm-up pool.

Both facilities are state-of-the-art. Funding for the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre is the largest single investment in amateur sports in the history of Canada, about $205 million Canadian dollars ($158 million to design and build it).

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Both facilities are similarly situated from the downtown core, and will be accessible by a combination of public transit and shuttle busses (see below).

THE COMPETITION

Dates of Competitions

The competition will be in mid-June (Friday June 10, 2016 until Tuesday June 14, 2016), which will coincide with the beginning of Toronto Pride Week, one of the largest Pride celebrations in the world. Notably, Toronto welcomed 2,000,000 people this year to celebrate World Pride.

Proposed Schedule of Events

Please see attached Schedule “A". All athletic events will be at the Etobicoke Olympium. The facilities will allow for simultaneous events. Social gatherings will be held around the city at various venues.

Proposed Social Activities

Toronto’s Gay Village is truly stocked with a variety of bars, lounges restaurants and clubs - each hosting a number of activities, especially around Pride. We will have a variety of events, including a kick-off party, a women’s event at the Court House, the IGLA banquet and a Farewell Party. While venues have yet to be finalized, it is anticipated the IGLA banquet will be held at the CN Tower, the world’s tallest freestanding structure. The views are breathtaking and there is no better to get some final perspective on a lifetime’s worth of memories. Other potential venues for social gatherings include the Toronto Distillery District and the new state-of-the-art Ripley’s Aquarium downtown. Furthermore, we are planning on having a pic-nic on one of Toronto’s best kept secrets, Hanlan’s Point, on Toronto Island.

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LOCAL/TOURIST ATTRACTIONS

Toronto has a host of truly world class tourist attractions. At the time of the competition, several professional sports will be in season, including Toronto Blue Jays baseball; Toronto FC soccer; and Toronto Argonauts football. Our restaurants and bars reflect the diversity of the city, from street food to our 5 new 5-star hotels. Moreover, you can not only go to the top of the CN Tower, you can take a walk on the surface of its famous observation deck. And in terms of museums, shopping, and attractions, the options are truly outstanding: Art Gallery of Ontario: Founded in 1900 by a group of private citizens as the Art Museum of Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is one of the largest art museums in North America, with a physical facility of 583,000 square feet. The AGO holds more than 80,000 works in its collection, which spans from 100 A.C.E. to the present. Its recent renovation was designed by Frank Gehry. http://www.ago.net Royal Ontario Museum: Canada's largest museum of natural history and world cultures presents engaging galleries of art, archaeology and natural science from around the world. Its recent renovation was completed by Daniel Liebeskind. http://www.rom.on.ca/en The Design Exchange: Is Canada’s only museum dedicated exclusively to the pursuit of design excellence and preservation of design heritage. At a crossroads of multiple disciplines from furniture and architecture to graphics and fashion. http://www.dx.org Bata Shoe Museum: Discover the treasures of North America's charming and surprising shoe museum. Hundreds of shoes (from a collection numbering over 10,000) are on exhibit in architect Raymond Moriyama's award-winning four-storey structure. http://www.batashoemuseum.ca

Toronto water polo and the arts!

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Toronto Eaton Centre: The Eaton Centre is one of Canada’s favourite places to shop. WIth over 200 retailers in fashion, furniture and electronics, the selection here is unbeatable. The Eaton Centre has also become a vital public space—crowds, shown here, watch Canadian World Cup coverage with anticipation:

St. Lawrence Market: Great picnic fare can be discovered at The St. Lawrence Market, ranked by National Geographic as the world’s best food market. Try the famous peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery.

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Hockey Hall of Fame: Spend the afternoon at the Hockey Hall of Fame and get your picture taken with the

Stanley Cup. These guys sure enjoyed it!

Chinatown and Kensington Market: A short walk or street car ride from The Eaton Centre is Chinatown. It’s one of three Chinatowns in the city and borders on Kensington Market, a bohemian mix of vintage shops, funky restaurants, cafes and bars in addition to Latin American markets and food stalls.

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The Distillery Historic District: The Distillery District is another one of Toronto’s most vibrant neighbourhoods It was Toronto’s first distillery –which produced almost half of Ontario’s total spirit production in 1871— and is now home to high-end boutiques, art galleries and restaurants. You can take a tour here or may be lucky enough to see a movie or TV show being filmed here.

See more at:

http://www.seetorontonow.com/attractions/torontos-must-see-attractions/#sthash.NAfRme5C.dpuf

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TRANSPORTATION

Included in the registration fee, it is anticipated each participant will receive a “Metro Pass” granting unlimited access on Toronto’s public transit system (“TTC”). Made up of a network of subways (4 lines), streetcars and busses, the TTC provides access to the entire city. Most of the above attractions are within a few minutes of TTC stations.

Transportation to the venue will be by shuttle bus (from the nearest TTC subway station)

GAY AND LESBIAN COMMUNITY HISTORY AND SUPPORT

Torontonians Championing Civil Rights and Marriage Equality

The neighbourhood bounded by Yonge, Jarvis, Maitland and Carlton Streets was once the estate of Alexander Wood, a merchant and magistrate in Upper Canada who was at the centre of a strange, supposedly sexually related scandal in 1810. His lands were derisively known as "Molly Wood's Bush" in the early nineteenth century — “molly” being a slang term for “homosexual” in the era. Wood is recognized as a forefather of Toronto’s gay community by a statue on the corner of the street that bears his name.

For almost a half-century, Toronto has played a critical role in the global struggle for LGBTQ rights. A significant part of world LG history runs down “Church and Wellesley”, the intersection at the centre of our Village, arguably one of the largest and most vital gay communities in the world. Prior to the 1970s, there had been an underground (mostly male) gay scene centred on various bathhouses and bars around the city that were not exclusively gay establishments but were known to be frequented by homosexuals. Beginning in the 1980s, the scene became more visible along the Yonge/Wellesley neighbourhood. It was during this same period that the Bath House Raids of 1981 galvanized Canada’s gay rights movement.

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Over the decades, that movement has made Toronto, Ontario and Canada generally one of the global leaders on issues of same-sex and trans rights: Toronto has had anti-discrimination policies in place since 1973, and has provided benefits to same-sex couples since 1989; Canada’s Charter of Rights and Freedoms prevents discrimination based on sexual orientation (1985); Ontario (and eventually Canada) became the third jurisdiction in the world to legalize same-sex marriage (2003); and Ontario has passed a bill preventing discrimination against trans people (2012).

Today, much of Toronto’s LGBT community continues to reside in the Church/Wellesley Village, however there are thriving queer cultural hotspots all over town including Queen (“Queer”) West Village and Leslieville (“Lezbieville”). No matter where one goes in the city, there is bound to a queer friendly space to rest one’s feet.

In Media and Culture

Queer issues are covered by a variety of publications and other media including: Xtra - a bi-weekly news and entertainment newspaper; IN - a monthly lifestyle magazine; and PROUD-FM - the world’s first terrestrial commercial LGBT radio station. Queer West Web Media - http://www.queerwest.org My Gay Toronto - http://www.mygaytoronto.com Buddies In Bad Times Theatre - the largest and longest running queer theatre in the world - and this year, turning 35 years old. http://buddiesinbadtimes.com

Letters Offering Support

DAC has been able to secure the support of the province of Ontario, the City of Toronto and from various community groups to bid for and to host IGLA 2016. Attached as Schedule B, please find support letters from:

a) Glen Murray, Member of Provincial Parliament b) Kristyn Wong-Tam - City Councillor; c) the 519 Community Centre; and d) Tourism Toronto As well, DAC is confident that hosting IGLA back in Canada for the first time in 15 years will help to attract competitors from the United States, Europe and Australia that have been absent for the past number of competitions. Attached, please find letters of commitment (in principle) from:

a) Melbourne Surge;

b) Atlanta Rainbow Trout; and c) TNYA

As well, we have spoken with representatives from Amsterdam, Copenhagen, London (UK), Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Cleveland and Victoria (AU) who all say they are either interested in Toronto’s bid, or that they would likely send participants if the event were to be hosted in Toronto.

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TRANSPORTATION INFORMATION

Toronto is accessible by air through two airports with almost daily flights to anywhere in the world. Toronto’s Pearson International Airport (YYZ) will be connected with Toronto’s Union Station is the heart of the city by rail commencing in 2015. The 20 minute train ride will eliminate the need to take a taxi or transit, and will cut down on travel time. As well, Billy Bishop airport (YTZ) receives flights from various US destinations and is conveniently located on Toronto Island just minutes from downtown.

As well, located within 150 km (95 miles) of four border crossings with the United States, Toronto is easily accessed by rail, and road from many cities in the US Northeast. ACCOMMODATION

Downtown Aquatics Corporation is pleased to announce the Courtyard by Marriott as the host hotel for IGLA 2016. Located just seconds from Toronto’s gay Village by foot, the Courtyard by marriott offers 200 rooms with the potential to accommodate up to 800 participants.

The hotel is offering rates of $159 per night (double occupancy); $179 per night (triple occupancy); and $189 per night (quadruple occupancy).

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In addition to the host hotel, our swimmers, players, divers, synchro athletes, volunteers, and friends of friends have a long history of billeting guests. It is anticipated hosted housing will be offered on a limited first come/first served basis.

Day 0 Pool A Pool B Social/Other 7:00-12:00 --- --- --- 12:00-1500 --- --- IGLA Board Mtg

IGLA AGM (519 Community Centre)

15:00-17:00 Swim W/U Swim W/U Happy Hour (TBD) 17:00-20:00 1500m Free 1500m Free 21:00 – Close --- --- Opening Party (TBD) Day 1 Pool A Pool B Social/Other 7:30-8:30 Swim W/U Swim W/U --- 8:30-11:00 200m Br; 100m Fl;

200m Fr; 50m Bk; 200m IM; 4x 200m Md. Rl.

200m Br; 100m Fl; 200m Fr; 50m Bk; 200m IM; 4x 200m Fr. Rl.

---

11:00-11:30 Rainbow Relay Rainbow Relay --- 11:30-13:00 Synchro W/U Diving W/U --- 13:00-15:00 Water Polo Water Polo --- 15:00-18:00 Water Polo Water Polo Happy Hour (TBD) 18:00-20:00 Pink Flamingo W/U --- --- 20:00-Close Women’s Party

(Court House) Day 2 Pool A Pool B Social/Other 7:00-7:30 Synchro W/U Diving W/U --- 7:30-9:30 Synchro Solo/Duet --- --- 9:30-11:00 --- Diving 1m --- 11:00-11:30 Swim W/U Swim W/U --- 11:30-15:30 400m Fr; 50m Fl;

100m Br; 200m Bk; 50m Fr; 4 x 100m Fr Rl.

400m Fr; 50m Fl; 100m Br; 200m Bk; 50m Fr; 4 x 100m Fr Rl.

---

15:30-20:30 Water Polo Water Polo Happy Hour (TBD)

Day 3 Pool A Pool B Social/Other 7:30-8:30 Swim W/U Swim W/U --- 8:30-11:00 800m Fr; 4 x 100 Fr

Rl; 100m Bk; 100m IM; 4 x 50 Md. Rl

800m Fr; 4 x 100 Fr Rl; 100m Bk; 100m IM; 4 x 50 Md. Rl

---

11:00-13:00 Diving 3m --- --- 13:00-17:00 Water Polo Water Polo --- 15:00-17:00 --- --- Happy Hour (TBD) 17:00-18:00 Pink Flamingo

Practice --- ---

17:00-20:00 --- --- IGLA Island Picnic Day 4 Pool A Pool B Social/Other 7:30 – 8:30 Swim W/U Swim W/U --- 8:30 – 10:00 400 m IM; 100m Fr;

200m Fl; 50m Br; 4 x 50m Fr Rl

400 m IM; 100m Fr; 200m Fl; 50m Br; 4 x 50m Fr Rl

---

10:00-10:30 Synchro W/U Synchro W/U --- 10:30-11:30 Synchro Team --- --- 11:30-15:30 Water Polo Dive Exhibition W/U 15:30-16:00 --- Dive Exhibition Happy Hour (TBD) 16:00-17:00 Pink Flamingo --- Happy Hour (cont.) 19:00-21:00 --- --- Awards Banquet (CN

Tower) 20:00-Close --- --- Closing Party (TBD)

77 Carlton Street Unit 1707 Toronto Canada M5B 2J7 +1-647-800-9637 www.OutSportToronto.org

14 July 2014 Sean Moreman President Downtown Aquatics Corporation 525 - 60 Homewood Ave Toronto, ON M4Y 2X4 Dear Sean: Re: IGLA 2016 OUTSPORT TORONTO is pleased to support the Downtown Aquatics Corporation (DAC) in its bid to host IGLA 2016. Over the last three years, our organisations have developed partnerships and other forms of co-operation on a number of events, including our annual conference and the SportZone during the Pride festival. We have been impressed that your club continues to grow in size, and grateful that your membership is always prepared to step up and provide volunteers in order to make these events a success. OUTSPORT TORONTO serves and supports LGBT amateur sport and recreation organisations and athletes in the Greater Toronto Area. As a result, we are thrilled to get behind any club that wishes to bring a world class LGBT event to Toronto. Given our past joint ventures, we are confident the DAC will do a fantastic job at hosting IGLA 2016. If the bid is successful, we look forward to working with you in the lead up to the event as you get ready to showcase Toronto’s LGBT sporting community to the world. Warm regards,

Shawn Sheridan Chair, OUTSPORT TORONTO

AtORONTO Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly

July 30. 2014

Mr. Sean Morernan. PresidentDowntown Aquatics Corporation5 25-60 Hornewood AveToronto. ON M4Y 2X4

Dear Mr. Moreman:

RE: Bid for the International Gay and Lesbian Aquaties Championships (IGLA) in 2016

The City of Toronto is pleased to support the Downtown Aquatics Corporation in their hid tobring the International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics Championship to Toronto in June 2016.

Toronto is Canadas largest city, the fourth largest in North Amcrica. and home to a diversepopulation of about 2.8 million people. It’s a global centre for business, finance, sports, arts andculture and is consistently ranked one of the world’s most livable cities. Toronto’s richmulticultural diversity is expressed by residents from more than 200 distinct ethnic origins whospeak over 140 languages and dialects, making Toronto a unique mosaic where different cultureslive in harn’iony.

IGLA. a multi-sport event, which includes swimming, diving, synchronized swimming and waterpolo, would build on the legacy created through hosting the 2015 Pan AmlParapan Am Games.The City of Toronto will have two facilities capable of hosting [his event, the renovated andimproved Etobicoke Olympium and the new CIBC Pan Am! Parapan Am Aquaties Centre andField House which hosts two internally sanctioned 10-lane 50-meter pools and a 5-metre divingtank.

Toronto has a successful history of hosting and welcoming a wide variety of special events,championships and festivals including 2014 WorldPdde. We look forward to hosting the 2016International Gay and Lesbian Aquatics Championship and welcoming athletes from around theworld to our City.

ISindçrely,

Deputy Mayor Norm KellyCity of Toronto

Councillor, Ward 40— Scarborough-Agincourt

City Hall 100 Queen Street West 2nd Floor j Toronto, ON M5H 2N2

Tel: 416-397-7722 Fax: 416-338-7124 deputymayor@toronto.ca I www.normkelly.com