2007

July-19-2007 The Star – City, Kiwanis at odds over Casa Loma control –

admin — Thu, 19 Jul 2007 16:57:45 +0000

Toronto Star

City Notebook – July 19, 2007

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 in this city, and now suddenly the standard is different for this group.” Council did adopt Councillor Howard Moscoe’s motion to have the city review Casa Loma’s budgets.

Wozenilek noted that under the new governance structure, still to be negotiated, the city is likely to appoint half the directors, although Kiwanis will insist on the tiebreaking vote.

“Why should we not have the ability to control what happens with the license? It only makes sense,” he said.

“We haven’t been operating this for 70 years to then turn around and act in a crazy fashion.”

Councilors Question Mihevic Part 1 Jul 18/07

admin — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 21:11:53 +0000

July 18, 2007 Councilors Question Mihevic Part 1

… Read the rest

June-26-2007 National Post – Kiwanis not to be cast out of Casa Loma Renovations proposed

admin — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 17:03:48 +0000

Council committee endorses renewing 20-year contract

Kelly Patrick
National Post

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

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 a trust to cover external repairs.

In 2006, Casa Loma paid the city $923,000.

The Kiwanis Club of Casa Loma’s chairman said yesterday it would be manifestly unfair to wrest control from the group after seven decades.

“We’re the ones that branded this building,” Richard Wozenilek said. “We’re the ones that made it the tourist icon. After 70 years of very, very hard work, to now just cast aside that 70-year relationship, that’s absurd.”

Questions about Casa Loma’s future have swirled since 2004, when the city set up an external advisory panel called the Casa Loma Advisory Committee [CLAC] to examine the castle’s operations.

Last summer, CLAC delivered a controversial report recommending a public trust — similar to the not-for-profit trusts that run the Toronto Zoo and Exhibition Place–be set up to oversee the castle’s operations.

It suggested a competitive bidding process be established to find a private company or group to run Casa Loma’s day-to-day operations.

The report invited the Kiwanis Club to bid.

However, the service club bristled at the report’s suggestion it cede control. Marshalling its volunteers, the club last summer convinced a council committee to send the CLAC report back for more study.

Yesterday, the issue reemerged at executive committee with a new recommendation that the Kiwanis Club stay in charge, as long as it is willing to make substantial changes.

The Club proposes to renovate the building’s interior, add a new year-round restaurant and focus on attracting tourists from within the city.

The precise details are still to be sorted, but the plan could also see the city nominate 50% of an expanded 14-member board, with Kiwanis members reserving the power to break a tie.

Councillor Joe Mihevic, who sat on CLAC, moved a motion the public trust idea be revived.

Mayor David Miller spoke against that option.

“This isn’t coming as a blank slate out of the blue,” he said. “It’s coming with a history and the Kiwanis have had an important part of that history, and I think it’s important for us to respect that,” the Mayor said.

The plan still has to win the full council’s approval.

kpatrick@nationalpost.com