In less than a year, on Aug 15, the Toronto 2015 Pan Am and Parapan American Games will come to a close. If projections are accurate, the Games will bring 250,000 visitors to Ontario, $3.7 billion in new economic activity and result in an expected 26,000 new jobs. These are significant numbers, especially for a province in need of some good economic news.
While the Games will likely provide a short-term boon to our economy, the lasting impact is not as clear.
The long-term benefits associated with major sporting events — including investment attraction, stronger trade ties and increases in foreign arrivals and visitor spending — cannot be taken as a given. That’s why it’s vital that government and the private sector act prudently and with purpose to ensure a successful legacy for the Pan Am Games.
Read the entire piece on thestar.com…
