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Toronto (May 9, 2017) – On Saturday, May 27, 2017, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (Billy Bishop Airport) will once again welcome the public to visit the airport as part of the 18th annual Doors Open Toronto, presented by Great Gulf. This is the second year Billy Bishop Airport has participated in the city-wide event, which last year saw more than 10,000 people visit the airport during the day in which it participated.
This year’s Doors Open Toronto theme “Fifteen Decades of Canadian Architecture” is part of the larger citywide “TO Canada with Love” celebration, which is being held in honour of Canada’s 150th birthday. As part of this celebration, Billy Bishop Airport will showcase more than 75 years of providing aviation services to the city of Toronto, including serving as a training base for both the Royal Canadian and Royal Norwegian air forces during WWII . Billy Bishop Airport will “open its doors” on May 27 only, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with the last entry for the day being granted at 4:00 p.m.
Staff and partners will be onsite to answer questions and provide visitors with a unique behind-the-scenes glimpse of the airport, including:
- Billy Bishop Airport’s award-winning underwater pedestrian tunnel, as well as the mainland pavilion and island atrium which play host to a historical exhibit and sculptures relating to the airport’s namesake and his role in World War I;
- The airport’s fire hall and maintenance facility, which will provide the opportunity for kids of all ages to explore the airport’s state-of-the-art safety vehicles;
- A staging area to view the airport’s runway operations, the historic Terminal A building, new Ground Run-up Enclosure, and aircraft;
- The opportunity to be one of the first to meet Billy Bishop Airport’s new mascot;
- The team of falcons who play an important role in the airport’s wildlife management program;
- Ornge aircraft and facilities that provides Medevac emergency services;
- A historical photography exhibit in the island atrium depicting images of the airport and surrounding waterfront; and,
- Airport partners and tenants, such as Porter Airlines and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), who will host displays, showcasing the full range of services that the airport provides.
“Billy Bishop Airport is ranked as one of North America’s top airports, serving as a convenient and world-class international gateway to Canada’s largest city while providing travellers with a breathtaking first impression as they arrive in Toronto,” said Gene Cabral, Executive Vice President of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and PortsToronto, which owns and operates the airport. “Last year, Billy Bishop Airport was ranked as one of the top five destinations to visit during Doors Open Toronto. We look forward to once again welcoming Torontonians to the airport as we showcase what we do and why the airport is an important part of what makes Toronto a world-class city.”
Since it opened in 1939, Billy Bishop Airport has a rich history of operating as an important commercial aviation centre and key driver of Toronto’s economy. This history includes serving as the training ground for both the Royal Canadian and Royal Norwegian air forces during WWII and as the home of commercial flight operations for WWI heroes Billy Bishop and William Barker. Today, the airport is the ninth-busiest airport in Canada, serving 2.7 million passengers each year travelling to and from more than 20 destinations in Canada and the United States.
About Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (http://www.portstoronto.com/airport.aspx)
Billy Bishop Airport is Canada's ninth-busiest airport and welcomed 2.7 million business and leisure travellers in 2016. The airport is also Canada’s sixth-busiest airport with passenger service into the United States. Offering service to more than 20 cities in Canada and the U.S., with connection opportunities to more than 80 international destinations via our airlines’ networks, Billy Bishop Airport is an important international gateway and a key driver to Toronto’s economy, accounting for more than $2.1 billion in economic output each year and supporting 6,500 jobs, including 1,960 directly associated with the airport operations.
About PortsToronto (http://www.portstoronto.com/)
For more than 100 years PortsToronto has worked with its partners at the federal, provincial and municipal levels to enhance the economic growth of the City of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area. PortsToronto owns and operates Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, which welcomed more than 2.7 million passengers in 2016; the Outer Harbour Marina, one of Canada's largest freshwater marinas; and, Terminals 51 and 52, which provide transportation, distribution, storage and container services to businesses at the Port of Toronto. PortsToronto is committed to fostering strong, healthy and sustainable communities and has invested more than $9 million since 2009 in charitable initiatives and environmental programs that benefit communities along Toronto's waterfront and beyond. PortsToronto operates in accordance with the Canada Marine Act and is guided by a nine-member board with representation from all three levels of government.
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Media Contact:
Sarah Sutton, Senior Manager, Communications & Media Relations
PortsToronto
Cell: (647) 298-0544
E-mail:
ssutton@portstoronto.com