Category Archives: 2007 News

The Kiwanis Club should get a chance to negotiate a new, 20-year licensing agreement to operate Casa Loma, Toronto City Council has decided.

But the battle for control may not be over. Richard Wozenilek, chair of the castle's board, says the Kiwanians will insist on having voting control, something Councillor Joe Mihevc (Ward 21, St. Paul's) vowed to fight as "totally, totally inappropriate" for a city-owned building.

An advisory committee had recommended setting up a new Casa Loma Trust to run the deteriorating facility, but after Kiwanis mounted a strong lobbying campaign,councillors backed away.

Mihevc said a poor governing structure is at the heart of the castle's troubles – the city owns and maintains the exterior while Kiwanis maintains the interior and runs programs.

Councillor Mike Del Grande (Ward 39, Scarborough Agincourt) said it would be inconsistent for the city to insist on a tightly crafted deal with Kiwanis: "We've done a lot of lousy deals

Globe & Mail

By JENNIFER LEWINGTON AND JEFF GRAY

Council approves new rules for off-leash areas in parks and finally decides the fate of Casa Loma

Meanwhile, the battle for Casa Loma - seen as Toronto's tired, aging castle on a hill - was finally won yesterday when city council voted to keep it in the hands of the Kiwanis Club, despite objections from a handful of councillors.

The fight pitted the local councillor, Joe Mihevc (Ward 21, St. Paul's), an ally of Mayor David Miller, against the Kiwanians, who hired Paul Sutherland, a former councillor and well-connected lobbyist, to knock on doors and make their case at city hall.

Their efforts helped reverse a recommendation by a blue-ribbon panel that they be stripped of their control of the city-owned palatial home, which the Kiwanis Club says remains the city's No. 2 tourist attraction, next to the CN Tower.

Council voted yesterday 32-5 to instruct bureaucrats to enter into negotiations

Council’s executive committee yesterday narrowly endorsed a plan to leave the Kiwanis Club in charge of Casa Loma for another 20 years — despite an advisory panel’s recommendation that the historic castle’s operations be overseen by a public trust and be put out for competitive tender.

“Casa Loma has deteriorated into largely a third-class banquet hall,” Councillor Howard Moscoe complained. “The Kiwanis proposal might make it a first-class banquet hall, but it lacks the excitement that needs to be injected into what has become a very sad situation.”

The Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma has operated the interior of the Edwardian castle near Spadina Road and Dupont Street since 1937; the city, which owns the building, is responsible for its exterior.

Under a long-standing deal that expires on Dec. 31, 2008, Kiwanis pays a portion of the castle’s operating revenue to the city, which holds the cash in