Millennium Task Force
The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee recommends that Recommendation (1) embodied in the report
(September 21, 1998) from the Chair of the Millennium Task Force be amended by deleting therefrom the words
"the New Year's Levee on January 1, 2001 marking the arrival of the millennium" and as so amended, the report be
adopted.
The Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee submits the following transmittal letter (September23,1998) from
the City Clerk:
Recommendation:
The Budget Committee on September 23, 1998 referred the recommendations of the Economic Development Committee to
the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee with the following amendment:
(1)that the words "the New Year's Levee on January 1, 2001 marking the arrival of the millennium" be deleted from
recommendation (1) embodied in the report (September 9, 1998) from the Chair of the Millennium Task Force.
The Budget Committee reports having requested that the Director of Special Events, Economic Development, Culture and
Tourism be invited to address the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee on September 24, 1998 when this matter is
considered.
Background:
The Budget Committee on September 23, 1998, had before it a transmittal letter (September 21, 1998) from the City Clerk
forwarding recommendations adopted by the Economic Development Committee.
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(Transmittal Letter dated September 21, 1998 addressed to the
Budget Committee from the City Clerk)
Recommendation:
The Economic Development Committee, at its meeting on September 18, 1998, recommended the adoption of the report
(September 9, 1998) from the Millennium Task Force, and the Committee's recommendation in this respect is forwarded to
the Budget Committee for consideration at its meeting on September 23, 1998 and subsequent submission to City Council
for its meeting on October 1, 1998 via the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee.
Background:
The Economic Development Committee had before it a report (September 9, 1998) from the City Clerk recommending to
the Economic Development Committee, Budget Committee, and Council, the adoption of the report, dated September 9,
1998, from Councillor C. Korwin-Kuczynski, Chair, Millennium Task Force, wherein it is recommended that:
(1)the City of Toronto, along with the rest of the world, celebrate the arrival of the millennium beginning with a New
Year's Eve celebration marking the turn of the century, and continuing throughout the year 2000; the New Year's Levee on
January 1, 2001 marking the arrival of the millennium;
(2)the City work co-operatively with Toronto 2000, an incorporated board of volunteers mandated to co-ordinate the
involvement of community organizations, by sector, across the City;
(3)the City work closely with all groups/organizations planning special millennium celebrations;
(4)the City work with other levels of government to ensure that Toronto residents, organizations and agencies are informed
of opportunities and programs available through the Provincial and Millennium offices;
(5)the City deliver its messages to all parts of the community by ensuring that each and every Ward Councillor is informed
and involved in celebrating the millennium at the community level;
(6)the City approve, in principle, the establishment of a Millennium Grants Program so that community initiatives and
potential legacy projects may be a significant part of Toronto's Millennium;
(7)the City establish a Millennium Project Revolving Account in the amount of $1,000,000.00, payable in advance
pending formal budget approval, and that the proposed final millennium budget be submitted to Budget Committee for
review;
(8)access and equity principles be considered a vital core of the millennium celebrations;
(9)Council give direction to all City departments and staff to provide full co-operation and in-kind support for the
production of this celebration and the secondment of staff with associated budget dollars;
(10)the City immediately book appropriate venues such as Roundhouse Park, Bobby Rosenfeld Park, Metro Convention
Centre, Casa Loma, for the Millennium celebrations; and
(11)City departments refer all Millennium related activities to the Millennium Task Force to avoid duplication.
The Committee took the above-noted action.
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(Transmittal letter dated September 9, 1998 addressed to the
Economic Development Committee from the City Clerk)
Recommendations:
The Millennium Task Force on September 9, 1998, recommended to the Economic Development Committee, Budget
Committee, and Council, the adoption of the report, dated September 9, 1998, from Councillor C. Korwin-Kuczynski,
Chair, Millennium Task Force, wherein it is recommended:
(1)that the City of Toronto, along with the rest of the world, celebrate the arrival of the millennium beginning with a New
Year's Eve celebration marking the turn of the century, and continuing throughout the year 2000; the New Year's Levee on
January 1, 2001 marking the arrival of the millennium;
(2)that the City work co-operatively with Toronto 2000, an incorporated board of volunteers mandated to co-ordinate the
involvement of community organizations, by sector, across the City;
(3)that the City work closely with all groups/organizations planning special millennium celebrations;
(4)that the City work with other levels of government to ensure that Toronto residents, organizations and agencies are
informed of opportunities and programs available through the Provincial and Millennium offices;
(5)that the City deliver its messages to all parts of the community by ensuring that each and every Ward Councillor is
informed and involved in celebrating the millennium at the community level;
(6)that the City approve, in principle, the establishment of a Millennium Grants Program so that community initiatives and
potential legacy projects may be a significant part of Toronto's Millennium;
(7)that the City establish a Millennium Project Revolving Account in the amount of $1,000,000.00, payable in advance
pending formal budget approval, and that the proposed final millennium budget be submitted to Budget Committee for
review;
(8)that access and equity principles be considered a vital core of the millennium celebrations;
(9)that Council give direction to all City departments and staff to provide full co-operation and in-kind support for the
production of this celebration and the secondment of staff with associated budget dollars;
(10)that the City immediately book appropriate venues such as Roundhouse Park, Bobby Rosenfeld Park, Metro
Convention Centre, Casa Loma, for the Millennium celebrations; and
(11)that City departments refer all Millennium related activities to the Millennium Task Force to avoid duplication.
The Millennium Task Force further reports having requested staff to report back to its next scheduled meeting, October 7,
1998, on a process and criteria for the issuance of grants for community initiatives and potential legacy projects pertaining
to the millennium, to include a review of other grant programs which could be initiated as part of millennium celebrations.
Background:
The Millennium Task Force had before it a report dated September 9, 1998, from the Chair, Millennium Task Force,
providing a plan for the City of Toronto's role in the year long activities that will take place in the Year 2000 as part of the
millennium celebrations.
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(Report dated September 9, 1998 addressed to the
Millennium Task Force from
Councillor Chris Korwin-Kuczynski, Chair, Millennium Task Force)
Purpose:
City Council, at its meeting of May 13/14, 1998, established the Millennium Task Force and mandated that it report back to
Council with a plan for Toronto's role in the year long activities that will take place in the year 2000. The following report
and the attached detailed Project Proposal (Appendix A) outlines the recommendations of the Task Force.
Recommendations:
(1)that the City of Toronto, along with the rest of the world, celebrate the arrival of the millennium beginning with a New
Year's Eve celebration marking the turn of the century, and continuing throughout the year 2000; the New Year's Levee on
January 1, 2001 marking the arrival of the millennium;
(2)that the City work co-operatively with Toronto 2000, an incorporated board of volunteers mandated to co-ordinate the
involvement of community organizations, by sector, across the City;
(3)that the City work closely with all groups/organizations planning special millennium celebrations;
(4)that the City work with other levels of government to ensure that Toronto residents, organizations and agencies are
informed of opportunities and programs available through the Provincial and Millennium offices;
(5)that the City deliver its messages to all parts of the community by ensuring that each and every Ward Councillor is
informed and involved in celebrating the millennium at the community level;
(6)that the City approve, in principle, the establishment of a Millennium Grants Program so that community initiatives and
potential legacy projects may be a significant part of Toronto's Millennium;
(7)that the City establish a Millennium Project Revolving Account in the amount of $1,000,000.00, payable in advance
pending formal budget approval, and that the proposed final millennium budget be submitted to Budget Committee for
review;
(8)that access and equity principles be considered a vital core of the millennium celebrations;
(9)that Council give direction to all City departments and staff to provide full co-operation and in-kind support for the
production of this celebration and the secondment of staff with associated budget dollars;
(10)that the City immediately book appropriate venues such as Roundhouse Park, Bobby Rosenfeld Park, Metro
Convention Centre, Casa Loma, for the Millennium celebrations; and
(11)that City departments refer all Millennium related activities to the Millennium Task Force to avoid duplication.
Background:
The Concise Oxford Dictionary defines "millennium" as a period of 1,000 years, and also as "a period of good government,
great happiness and prosperity". By definition the City of Toronto needs to be involved in celebrating the millennium.
The Millennium Task Force has taken the period of June through August to investigate activities planned in major cities
across Canada and to collect ideas and information from City Councillors, department and agency, board and commission
staff.
Many organizations and agencies external to the City have already begun to plan for the millennium and relationships are
being established from ongoing shared communications to documented partnership agreements. As a result of discussions
and meetings with organizations such as Toronto 2000, Towards the 21st Century, Millennium Beacon, Millennium Council
of Canada and the Millennium Bureau of Canada, it was determined that the City must ensure a comprehensive celebration
and promotional campaign is conducted in Toronto. This would be achieved through the City focusing its energies
geographically, through Ward Councillors; and City wide through the services and programs provided by the City
departments, agencies, boards and commissions.
An extensive and comprehensive communications plan is in the development stages. Staff have also surveyed major media
in the City and are confident that a multitude of projects and promotions can be implemented. CBC English Television are
interested in linking their millennium website site with the City millennium site, and are also interested in documentary and
programming initiatives. CFMT Television would like to help the City to ensure that all multicultural communities are
involved and informed. Metroland newspapers and Rogers Cable Television have already initiated discussions with the
City about ways to work together to make the year long celebration a great success.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
As we are drastically behind most of our North American counterparts, we request that Council approve a Millennium
Project Revolving Account in the amount of $1,000,000, payable in advance pending formal budget approval. These funds
will be used for ongoing planning and coordinating of the year long celebration. Once the research and costing phase of the
anticipated Millennium programs are complete, a proposed final millennium budget through to January 2001 will be
submitted as part of the annual Special Events Division budget for the Budget Committee's consideration. Corporate
sponsors and partners will be sought to reduce expenditures or to enhance the proposed programs.
Upon approval of this report, the Task Force will use the Millennium Project Revolving Account to coordinate a number of
urgent activities. There is an immediate need to produce print information and recruitment materials encouraging the
community to participate in Toronto's millennium celebration. Actual materials for "tool kits" will be designed and
produced. A launch to the 366 day countdown (January 1, 1999) will be designed and implemented. The Toronto
Millennium website will be launched, and the full promotional and events campaign will be set into motion. In addition to
promotional materials and activities, 1999 will also be host to significant "countdown" activities and "teaser" events
enhancing new and existing events leading up to the turn of the century and reflecting on the past.
In order to be able to initiate the full year long celebration with a magnificent New Year's Eve celebration on December 31,
1999, it is necessary to contract a headline entertainer now, and also to provide the fireworks agent with a down payment.
High quality entertainment and spectacular fireworks displays for that date are in high demand, and in order to secure the
calibre of service the City requires, it is necessary to provide these down payments out of the Millennium Project
Revolving Account immediately.
Sponsors, partners and donations will be sought to reduce the expenditures or to enhance the proposed programs.
As directed by the Millennium Task Force, the Millennium Project Revolving Account will also provide ongoing financial
support to Toronto 2000, an incorporated body of volunteers initiated by the Toronto Board of Trade which began to plan
for the millennium in 1996. The aim of the organization is to act as a co-ordinating body, reaching out to the entire Toronto
community. The approach will be by sector - business, education, arts and culture, entertainment, etc.
It is recommended that staff be seconded to fill the positions in the Millennium Office for the period of October 1998
through April 2001. Secondments will still be necessary if we are to manage this City-wide initiative. To maintain costs, it
is requested that departments endorse the staff move and the budgeted dollars associated with the position for the duration
of the secondment. The proposed structure is outlined in the attached detailed report and will be supplemented, where
possible, by volunteers and also by staff made available through such programs as university and college co-op programs
and Human Resources Development Canada.
Comments and/or Discussion and/or Justification:
It is anticipated that the Millennium Celebration in Toronto will be host to at least 2000 events. The majority of these
events will be planned and implemented locally by community organizations, and with the promotional and
communications assistance of the City. To supplement the local festivities, the City will coordinate a number of major
millennium celebrations. Departments will spread the millennium celebration message during ongoing activities and with
new initiatives. The City will play a key role in being a central registry and information centre for all of Toronto, as well as
ensuring that the millennium message is highly visible over the course of 2000 with the use of street banners. The City will
also introduce a special Millennium Grants Program, to be administered and approved through the existing grants process.
The resources expended by the City will be enhanced by the complementary activities planned and implemented across the
entire municipality.
(For a more detailed description, please see Millennium Project Proposal attached as Appendix A.)
Conclusion:
The world's entry into the next millennium is a defining moment for humankind. It is an event that is gathering energy and
generating much attention, reflection, emotion and a sense of celebration on a grand scale. The millennium offers
Torontonians the opportunity to participate with the rest of the world in a meaningful event that transcends borders,
cultures, religions and unites us as we embark into the 21st century.
There are many emerging messages including peace, hope, social conscience and a sense of opportunity and human
potential. The millennium offers an important opportunity for all Torontonians to reflect upon and communicate what is
meaningful to them about this passage. Beginning with a spectacular City-produced kick-off on New Year's Eve 1999,
Millennium celebrations would roll into the community initiated programming and legacy projects throughout the year.
This historic event is a tremendous catalyst for goodwill, sober reflection and also expressions of joy and hope as we move
forward together as a City.
Contact Names:
Jaye Robinson
Director of Special Events
Tel: 395-7310
Fax: 395-7337
(A copy of Appendix "A" titled "Toronto - Celebrating the Millennium" was circulated to all Members of Council with the
agenda of the Strategic Policies and Priorities Committee for its meeting of September 24, 1998, and copies thereof are on
file in the office of the City Clerk.)
