Opening Day Events Announced for Pedestrian Tunnel at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on July 30, 2015

TORONTO, July 28, 2015 /CNW/ - PortsToronto is pleased to announce that the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport, and His Worship John Tory, Mayor of the City of Toronto, will join in the opening-day events for the new Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport pedestrian tunnel on Thursday, July 30.

To celebrate the opening of the tunnel, two separate events will take place: A formal ribbon-cutting ceremony on the morning of July 30, followed by a public event to commemorate the "first person" through the tunnel at 1:00 p.m. and the opening of the facility to the public. Details for the events are as follows:

What:	Remarks and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (by invitation only)
Where:	Island-side atrium at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (Please take ferry across to island where you will be directed to atrium. Please be onsite no later than 10:30 a.m.)
When:	July 30, 2015, from 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. ET
	11:00 a.m. – Remarks and ribbon-cutting
	11:30 a.m. – Tour of tunnel with Minister Lisa Raitt and Mayor John Tory
	12:00 p.m. – Technical briefing of tunnel for media only and private access to facilities for photography and interviews with PortsToronto spokespeople
Who:	Geoffrey Wilson, CEO, PortsToronto
	Mark McQueen, Chairman, PortsToronto
	His Worship John Tory, Mayor, City of Toronto
	The Honourable Lisa Raitt, Federal Minister of Transport
What:	Opening of Tunnel
Where:	Mainland pavilion and island-side atrium at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
When:	July 30, 2015, from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. ET
	1:00 p.m.   –    First passenger through the tunnel. Passenger will arrive at mainland pavilion and walk through tunnel to atrium where public unveiling will occur and tunnel will open to the public (at approximately 1:30 p.m.)
Who:	Geoffrey Wilson, CEO, PortsToronto
	Gene Cabral, Executive Vice President, PortsToronto and Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport

Media are asked to register their attendance by contacting Erin Mikaluk at [phone] or [phone] or by email at [email protected].

Tunnel Background

In March 2012, PortsToronto announced and began excavation on a new 853-foot pedestrian tunnel that would be built under Lake Ontario's Western Channel, connecting mainland Toronto to Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. The $82.5 million tunnel was built using an innovative public-private partnership agreement between PortsToronto, Forum Equity Partners and lead contractor PCL, at no cost to taxpayers. To access the tunnel, travellers will descend 100 feet and travel along the main passageway via four moving sidewalks. At the south end of the tunnel, travellers will ascend to the island atrium and airport's check-in area using one of the longest escalator systems in Canada. The tunnel will be 100 per cent powered by green energy supplied by Bullfrog Power Inc.

For downloadable, high-res images and more information on the Pedestrian Tunnel, visit www.portstoronto.com.

About PortsToronto (http://www.portstoronto.com/)

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.

SOURCE PortsToronto

Media Contact: Erin Mikaluk, Senior Manager, Communications & Media Relations, PortsToronto, [phone] or [phone], [email protected]