On Monday, January 7, the Woodbine Entertainment Group published an item on its website calling on racing fans, patrons and community partners to voice their support for casino expansion at Woodbine Racetrack.

The item calls on supporters of Woodbine to make their feelings known to Toronto City Council by either providing feedback online, or by voicing their opinions on the matter during one of five community open houses, which begin this week.

People are encouraged to give their feedback online before January 25, 2013.

The contents of the WEG item appear below.

A Casino at Woodbine – A Responsible Choice for Toronto

TORONTO, January 7, 2013 - For more than 130 years, Woodbine Entertainment Group has been part of the fabric of life in Toronto. Now, we’re calling upon our thousands of horse racing fans, patrons and community partners to take part in the City of Toronto’s casino consultations – and let city council know that you support the long-term future of Woodbine Racetrack, by supporting it as a casino location in Toronto.

This month, the City is conducting a consultation process to gather the public’s views and opinions on possible locations for a casino in Toronto. Among them is Woodbine Racetrack in northwest Toronto – in the OLG’s C2 gaming zone, which is separate from the C1 zone where any potential downtown casino would be located.

Why Woodbine? For one, it’s an established site for successful gaming; in fact, with its current slots facilities, it’s already home to the largest gaming operation in the province. One with plenty of room to grow its facilities in northwest Toronto.

But there’s more to Woodbine than a world-class entertainment complex.

It’s also a major creator of jobs – 7,500 in Toronto alone – and a pillar of the Ontario horse racing and breeding industry, which employs more than 55,000 people. Woodbine is a valued partner in the city, one that works closely with law enforcement and Toronto community organizations for decades to ensure safe, responsible gaming. Woodbine gives back to the community – millions of dollars to local charities and causes to help make Toronto a better place to live; millions more to government in revenue sharing and taxes.

Now, Woodbine needs your help. A casino at Woodbine – with expanded gaming facilities including slots and table games – will ensure thousands of Torontonians will have secure and meaningful work for years to come. It will let Woodbine continue to support communities throughout the province, where horse racing and breeding are a vital part of the local economy. And it will preserve and grow one of Toronto’s most dynamic and valued entertainment venues – one that has been contributing to the life of the city from its current location since 1956.

City Consultation Process

The City of Toronto has announced the details of its public Toronto Casino Consultation strategy. For the month of January 2013, the public will be invited to share their views and opinions on a casino in the City.

The consultation process will gather input, including the public's views and opinions on a casino and possible locations for Council’s consideration when making a decision on this matter. City staff will write a report on the results of the consultation, which will go back to the Executive Committee in March.

As a customer, as a community partner, as an employee or as a racing fan, you know what Woodbine means to Toronto – and what a casino at Woodbine will mean for Toronto’s future.

The City has scheduled five community open houses which begin this week.

Wednesday, January 9
• City Hall Rotunda, Toronto City Hall
• 100 Queen Street West
• 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 12
• North York Memorial Hall
• 5110 Yonge Street
• 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Monday, January 14
• Etobicoke Olympium Gymnasium
• 590 Rathburn Road
• 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Thursday, January 17
• Scarborough Civic Centre Rotunda
• 150 Borough Drive
• 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Saturday, January 19
• BlumaAppel Salon
• Reference Library
• 789 Yonge Street
• 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Attend a public meeting or support a casino at Woodbine through the City’s online feedback form, available by clicking on the 'Have Your Say ' link at www.toronto.ca/casinoconsultation before January 25, 2013.

City Council needs to hear from you loud and clear: A casino at Woodbine is a responsible choice.