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Both the City and the Tiger Cats (Canadian football team) have agreed to a facilitator, Michael Fenn. July 8th deadline, day before my birthday. In true North American mentality the TiCats wants something out of this deal either free rent, higher subsidy, etc. Either way it sounds like the TiCats owner, Bob Young, will agree to whatever Michael Fenn rules. Michael Fenn was the founding CEO of Metrolinx (regional transit authority that covers Hamilton as well) and currently the interim CEO of the Canadian Urban Institute. So it's likely Mr. Fenn will support the West Harbour stadium location, best location for public transportation and strong urban setting. So it's really up to Mr. Fenn to make the West Harbour stadium location work and find a compromise for the TiCats.

New Delhi's Commonwealth Games in jeopardy May 05, 2010 Hamilton Spectator http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/763566 NEW DELHI - The co-ordination commission of the Commonwealth Games Federation on Wednesday expressed serious concern over the delay in the delivery of the major sports venues for the games that get under way in the Indian capital in less than five months. These venues include the athletics stadium, which is being upgraded to host the ceremonies as well, the swimming complex and the Games village. "There remains much to be done to ensure readiness and a cohesive games delivery from the opening of the Games Village on Sept. 16," the commission said in a statement. The Games that feature 71 nations and territories of the old British empire are scheduled for Oct. 3-14. The missing of construction deadlines in the past have provoked criticism from the CGF and caused embarrassment for local organizers. These delays have a knock-on effect and hamper the organizing committee's planning and implementation for final overlay, staff training, rehearsal, and simulation, the statement said. "It is imperative that everything be done to accelerate works and that the agencies responsible for venue delivery co-operate fully with the organizing committee to ensure the final planning for hand over and operations," it said. The commission said there has been progress in securing of Games accommodation requirements and in conducting eight test events. It also said the CGF was working closely with the organizing committee, New Delhi police and the federal and local governments to monitor all Games security arrangements and has assigned specialist consultants to work on its behalf. The cash-strapped government is pumping in more money to the nearly US$3-billion event. In March, the national government announced it was lending the organizers an additional $150 million to pay for fixtures and equipment required at the venues.

Canada warns of ‘imminent’ terror threat in New Delhi May 01, 2010 Torstar News Service http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/761647 NEW DELHI—The Canadian government believes there is an “imminent” threat of a terrorist attack in India’s capital city. In an email circulated Saturday morning to registered Canadians living in India, the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade wrote “while there is a continuing threat of terrorist attacks throughout India at all times, credible and specific reporting indicates that a terrorist attack could be carried in the following days or weeks, in market areas of Delhi frequented by foreigners.” The travel advisory was the third sent out in recent days and warns travellers to avoid New Delhi’s popular Chandni Chowk area. “We advise to exercise a high degree of caution, to monitor your surroundings and to minimize your presence in market areas of the city,” the advisory said. New Delhi has been relatively safe over the past year and a half. The advisory also comes as India and Pakistan attempt to normalize diplomatic ties. This week the countries agreed to schedule meetings between foreign ministers. Relations chilled in the wake of the November 2008 terrorist attacks when a group of terrorists from Pakistan landed on the shores of Mumbai, fanned out across the city and killed 163 people. The last major attack in New Delhi occurred in September 2008 when a series of synchronized explosions hit five crowded markets, including Connaught Place, a tourist destination. In February, Indian authorities issued a national alert after nine people were killed and at least 57 were wounded when a bomb exploded at a bakery in the western Indian city of Pune. The bakery was in a neighbourhood popular with foreign tourists.

Rail link on track, Pan Am officials say By JONATHAN JENKINS, Toronto Sun Last Updated: March 18, 2010 11:13pm http://www.torontosun.com/news/torontoandgta/2010/03/18/13281346.html The Union-Pearson rail link will be finished in time for the Pan American Games in 2015, organizers said Thursday. “We’ve had good meetings with the ministry of transport as well as Metrolinx and we’re quite confident that will be ready in time,” Games CEO Ian Troop said during a conference call with reporters. “We feel good that that will be an important infrastructural piece that will be triggered by the Pan American Games.” The promise of a rail line connecting Union Station and Pearson International Airport was first made in 2002, but little tangible progress has been made. Just last week, Mayor David Miller blamed squabbling between the province and the federal government for stalling the plan and said he was concerned the train may not be running in time for the Games, which will attract about 10,000 athletes and officials, and an estimated 250,000 tourists. Ontario had at one point hoped to have shovels in the ground on the project in early 2009 but has yet to finalize a contract with SNC-Lavalin, the engineering firm that will build the link. But Roger Garland, Pan Am Games chairman, said he was sitting with SNC officials when Miller made his comments last week and they assured him the rail line is moving forward. “They are working on this at the moment and are quite confident they’ll meet the deadline,” Garland said. Transportation will be a huge challenge for the Games, as the venues are spread around the Golden Horseshoe. Garland said organizers are well aware of the issue and are working with the ministry of transportation and Metrolinx, the regional transit authority, to find solutions.

Hamilton called ‘most lively’ host city for Pan Am Games John Kernaghan, The Hamilton Spectator Hamilton leads the Pan Am Games footprint in enthusiasm, Toronto 2015’s chairperson says. “Hamilton is the most lively partner,” Roger Garland said. “People here are energized by the Games.” He joked that he hopes Toronto catches the fever. Garland and host corporation CEO Ian Troop visited the city yesterday to meet Mayor Fred Eisenberger, city staff and officials at McMaster University. Hamilton is expected to deliver the Games track and field facility plus a velodrome,while McMaster is slated for a $35-million training pool. Eisenberger said the meeting yesterday began the process of planning to deliver the facilities. Troop said he’d heard the stadium “was a strong plan with a good partnership.” He couldn’t specify when Hamilton needed to firm up its plan and said if there are any issues around the stadium, there would be a way to resolve them. “We have a lot of venues but I don’t see anything we can’t work through with the team we’ll put in place.” Troop said yesterday’s meetings “put the plan on a glide path” and the host corporation would use the expertise of Infrastructure Ontario as planning moved forward.

The Pan Am Committee was in Hamilton today. Apparently we are way ahead of everyone else including Toronto.

And the Pan American Stadium in Hamilton.

26 million Canadians watched hockey final Ted Brellisford, The Hamilton Spectator. March 01, 2010 Canadian Press http://www.thespec.com/News/BreakingNews/article/730702 Some 80 per cent of Canadians watched part of the Olympic hockey final with an average audience of 16.6 million viewers, according to CTV. The game aired live on nine television networks in eight languages, the host broadcaster said. Some 26.5 million Canadians took in part of Canada's 3-2 overtime win over the U.S. The closing ceremonies averaged 14.3 million viewers, with 24.5 million watching some part of the broadcast. South of the border, NBC said the hockey final was the most-watched hockey game in the U.S. in 30 years. The NBC broadcast drew an average viewership of 27.6 million, the biggest hockey number since the U.S. versus Finland 1980 gold medal game in Lake Placid (32.8 million). Sunday's NBC audience peaked at 34.8 million when American Zach Parise sent the game to overtime with a goal with just 24.4 seconds left in regulation.

Perfect!

haha humour about the cauldron

Yonge Street in Toronto

Whoa haha thousands at Yonge Street, closed down parts of Downtown Toronto.

Yonge Street is closed in Toronto!

Owned the golden podium!

Owned the top podium.

OH yea! Canada the only host nation to have the most number of gold medals in the winter olympics!

Gold Canada Gold!!!!!!!

Our Father, who art in GM Place, hockey be thy name. Thy will be done, GOLD to be WON on ICE as well as IN THE STANDS. Give us this day, our hockey sticks, and forgive us our penalties, as we forgive those who crosscheck against us. Lead us not into elimination, but deliver us to victory, in the name of the fans, CANAD...A, and the HOLY PUCK. AMEN! GO CANADA GO!!!!

Excellent!

Got the most gold ever by the host Nation for the Winter Olympics.

Wow three golds in one day.

GOLD CANADA GOLD!!!

Hamilton isn't part of the Greater Toronto Area. Hamilton is part of the Greater Hamilton Area. It's two regions that's next to each other, kinda like a twin city. Hamilton was incorporated in 1846 and Toronto was incorporated in 1834.

Toronto won't go for 2030 Commonwealth Games since they know the Centennial game should be given to the City that started it, Hamilton. Hamilton -> 2030 Commonwealth Games with the new Pan American Stadium Toronto -> 2020 or 2024 Summer Olympic Games