Category Archives: 2006 News

Jun-17-2006-Star “This is Toronto’s Castle”

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Jun-13-2006-Star Relative Chimes in on Casa Loma

Sir Henry's great-grandniece wants new caretakers

Meeting packed with Kiwanians, committee delays decision
Jun. 13, 2006. 01:00 AM
JOHN SPEARS
CITY HALL BUREAU
 
The Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma has manned the battlements to defend its guardianship of the city landmark. 

But it had to dodge some missiles launched by Trelawny Howell. She told a Toronto council committee meeting packed with Kiwanians yesterday that, as a great-grandniece of the castle's builder, she'd like to see others get the chance to care for Casa Loma. 

The skirmish had councillors on the economic development committee ducking for cover: They put off a decision on who should run the castle and asked for further consultation — a decision that's likely to stall things until after November's municipal elections. 

The battle was launched by a report from an advisory committee, headed by former MPP Ron Kanter, which recommended turning management of the castle over to a new "Casa Loma Trust." 

The castle is

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Jun-12-2006-Star-City, Kiwanis scrap over ‘Casa Loma’ name

Jun. 12, 2006. 04:10 PM
JOHN SPEARS
STAFF REPORTER

 

The City of Toronto may own the building called Casa Loma — but they don’t own the name, says the chair of the Kiwanis Club board of trustees for the famous castle.The Kiwanians mounted a vigorous attack Monday on the report of an advisory committee that says Casa Loma should be turned over to a newly created Casa Loma Trust that would manage all aspects of the building.

The city owns Casa Loma, but has allowed the Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma to operate the castle for the past 70 years. The city is still responsible for maintaining the building’s exterior.

The advisory committee says a more clear-cut arrangement should be set up, and management wouldn’t necessarily be left in the hands of the Kiwanians.

Richard Wozenilek of Kiwanis harshly criticized the report today at a meeting the city’s economic development committee, saying the report is full of “innuendo and

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Jun-3-2006 Globe and Mail – Our Casa or their Casa?

by JOHN BARBER

Warning: Never come between a Kiwanian and his castle. Even if you tippy-toe, as the city is attempting to do with its “implementation of a new vision and governance structure for Casa Loma,” you are going to get whacked.

The report from an advisory committee recommending a gentle end to the service club’s 69 years of operating the great pile on the hill is “ludicrous,” “ill-prepared” and “ill-conceived,” according to lawyer Richard Wozenilek, head of the Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma. The club “vehemently rejects” the report’s “egregious distortions,” a press release states. The only exceptions are the parts it obtained from the club’s own report on its own vision for the city’s No. 3 tourist trap, according to Mr. Wozenilek. “We really got upset with this,” he added.

And now the club has gone to war — arming itself with professional lobbyists and spin doctors in an all-out effort to hang on to the prize. “We’ve … Read the rest

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June-1-2006 National Post – Casa Loma stuck in the past, panel says

Radical changes are needed to restore Casa Loma’s status as a premiere tourist attraction and historic building in Toronto, according to an advisory panel.

BY NATIONAL POST JUNE 1, 2006

Radical changes are needed to restore Casa Loma’s status as a premiere tourist attraction and historic building in Toronto, according to an advisory panel.

A report from the Casa Loma Advisory Committee released yesterday suggests the 92-year-old castle is beset with problems, ranging from a faulty governance model to inadequate signage to a lacklustre gift shop. The committee wants to create a public trust dedicated to restoring Casa Loma’s lost lustre.

“There is a sense the castle has been ignored, both on its inside and outside, and would benefit from a group focusing on it,” said Ron Kanter, the committee’s chairman.

Built between 1911 and 1914 by Henry Pellatt, the 98-room mansion features 22 fireplaces, three bowling alleys and a shooting gallery. Designed by E.J. Lennox, the architect who designed

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