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Toronto (May 25, 2015) – Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is pleased to confirm that it will clear two of its secondary runways to accommodate kilometres 3 and 4 of the Nike Toronto 15K Women’s Run on Toronto Island being held June 14 from 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This marks the first time that runways at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport have been used to facilitate such an event and will provide a unique experience for the runners to see the airfield and run along an aircraft runway.

 

The route set out by organizers will have participants in the Nike Women’s Toronto 15K head east and north from Centre Island towards Hanlan’s Point. Runners will then enter the property of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and travel west along runway 06/24, south along runway 15/33 and then loop around to head east to exit the airport grounds. The runways being used by runners in the Nike Toronto Women’s 15K are normally used to accommodate general aviation at the airport.
 

“We are excited to be involved in the Nike Toronto 15K Women’s Run and provide a unique opportunity and vantage point for run participants by accessing a normally restricted area of the airport,” said Gene Cabral, Executive Vice President of Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and PortsToronto. “This run brings thousands of athletes and their families to Toronto for a weekend of fun, fitness and celebration. We are proud that Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport is part of this world-class event.”
 

The route through the airport grounds will be isolated from the main runway and there will be no impact or interruption to scheduled commercial airline activity. All efforts will be made to accommodate general aviation pilots from the main runway during this time. A full safety and risk assessment has been undertaken to ensure that the run will not impact airport security, safety or operations. Run participants will come to the Toronto Island on City of Toronto ferries with the ferry to the airport being restricted to airline passengers and airport staff during this time.
 

Announced earlier this year, the Nike Toronto 15K Women’s Race is part of the new Nike Women’s event series. The Nike Women’s Race Series will be the world’s largest race series designed for women. The races motivate runners of all levels to push their limits by offering a variety of distances — ranging from 5k to half-marathon — on epic courses in cities around the world including Toronto, London and Hong Kong. In addition to uniting a global community of female runners, every race offers something different, including exciting new courses; runner services; and access to elite athletes, music and local cultural connections. Amongst the details designed specifically for women, runners completing each race will earn a custom finisher necklace distinctive to their city.
 

With flights to 20 destinations in Canada and the United States and connections to 80 locations around the world, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport provides travellers coming into and out of Canada's largest city with a convenient travel option located a short 2.8 kilometres from Toronto’s downtown core. In 2014, the airport served more than 2.4 million passengers, making it the ninth-busiest airport in Canada and the sixth-busiest Canadian airport serving the United States. In 2015, Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport was named one of the top regional airports in North America by Skytrax World Airport Awards, was a finalist for Best Airport in the Business Travel Awards, and was voted one of the Top 10 Most Beautiful Airport Approaches in the world by Private Fly.

 

For more than 100 years PortsToronto, (formerly the Toronto Port Authority), 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 welcomes more than two million passengers each year; 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 $6.7 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.

Erin Mikaluk

Senior Manager, Communications & Media Relations

PortsToronto

Tel: (416) 863-2065; Cell: (647) 298-0544

E-mail: emikaluk@portstoronto.com