The Economic Development & Culture Division (EDC) provides services that contribute to an economically strong, socially enjoyable and culturally vibrant city. Our combined service responsibilities heighten Toronto's ability to sustain and promote itself as one of the world's leading creative cities.

Our objective is to advance Toronto's prosperity, opportunity and liveability by:

• Improving the business climate within the city to enable, accelerate and attract economic growth
• Diversifying Toronto's international portfolio by substantially increasing economic activity with cities beyond North America with a focus on emerging markets
• Anchoring and expanding strategic industry sectors through increased competition and collaboration
• Enhancing and expanding Toronto's labour force and ensure that all residents have equitable access to the benefits of Toronto's enhanced economic competitiveness and growth.

These services are provided at convenient locations including City Hall, North York, Scarborough and Etobicoke Civic Centres.

Contacts

Eva Pyatt Director 416-392-7183 epyatt@toronto.ca	Katherine Roos Manager Enterprise Toronto (Small Business) 416 395-7474 kroos@toronto.ca
Mike Major Manager Business Improvement Areas 416 392-0623 mmajor@toronto.ca	George Spezza Manager Business Retention and Expansion 416 392-6904 gspezza@toronto.ca

Cultural Services

• manage and develop cultural resources and events to enrich Toronto’s quality of life and sense of place
• cultural partnerships and funding
• asset management, including the capital program and property management
• special projects, including adaptive reuse projects such as the Wychwood Car Barns and Don Valley Brick Works
• community development and outreach, including arts education and programming
• public art acquisition, conservation, collection management
• museum and heritage services including heritage programs and education, collections management, museum operations
• special events programming, production and sponsorship, event support and facilitation.

Programs are delivered through the following units within Cultural Services:

• Arts Services  
• Cultural Affairs  
• Museum Services
• Special Events

Contact
Rita Davies
Director
416-397-5323
rdavies@toronto.ca.

Office of the Film Commissioner

• development of strategies and policies related to the screen-based industries
• building and maintaining intergovernmental and industry relationships, networks and partnerships
• coordination of location filming through issuance of permits by the Toronto Film and Television Office (TFTO)   and problem solving or conflict resolution
• domestic and international promotion of Toronto as a film locations, production and post –production centre of excellence
• support to the Toronto Film Board, the advisors on, voice to, and advocate for the screen-based industries

Contacts
Peter Finestone
Film Commissioner
416-392-3376
pfinesto@toronto.ca

Program Support

• Integrated marketing and administrative support to the division that includes:
• public business and investor information including: divisional information products and services, and Web-enabled information access
• financial planning, administration and budget coordination
• alternative revenue generation strategies
• marketing and promotion
• branding
• liaison with the Greater Toronto Marketing Alliance (GTMA)
• staff development
• internal divisional control and compliance activities.

Contact
Judy Morgan
Director
416-395-0410
jmorgan1@toronto.ca

Strategic Growth & Sector Services

• economic / cultural / tourism impact and custom research analysis
• economic / cultural / tourism policy planning, strategy development, monitoring and evaluation
• sector development  / liaison /  investment promotion (includes tourism, culture, film and television sectors)
• nurture growth of  targeted sectors of the economy through sector specialists for: fashion and design; biotechnology; medical and pharmaceutical; food, beverage and packaging; information technology; telecommunications and new media; financial services
• maintenance of economic, real estate, labour force, and business data bases to support custom research and policy development
• custom market analysis by user-defined geographic area with such information as daytime/night-time population counts, employment, retail sales, etc.
• policy advice on economic / cultural / tourism impact of City Council and other orders of government decisions and legislation
• support for Mayor’s / Council’s advisory committees and other initiatives
• liaison with arm’s length agencies
• economic development through international alliances through the International City to City Program
• program-related inter-governmental relations.

Service delivery is provided in partnership with:

• all orders of government
• City of Toronto divisions
• agencies, boards and commissions
• economic sectors
• major employers
• community groups.

Major International Events & Special Projects

• proactively seek opportunities for the City of Toronto to bid on hosting international sporting, cultural, social, or business events
• maintain a joint private and public sector-appointed advisory board with responsibility for strategic projects and bid presentation assistance
• research and analyze event hosting opportunities
• develop and maintain relationships with other orders of government and City of Toronto divisions
• liaise with host organizations or federations
• prepare bid documentation
• manage the City of Toronto's destination marketing service agreement with Tourism Toronto