The Rexdale Casino Woodbine Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) is an award winning, precedent setting model that continues to build a legacy in Rexdale. It serves as a model for private public partnership that gives back to the local community, the residents of Toronto, and communities around the world who wish to utilize Community Benefit Agreements as a mechanism to transform their community.
In 2018, the City of Toronto signed a Community Benefits Agreement with One Toronto Gaming, which operates Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto in the Rexdale area of Northwest Toronto.
Community organizing was a crucial component in the lead up to the Rexdale CBA. Communities Organizing for Responsible Development (CORD) and Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN) were community leaders in advocacy and organizing on behalf of, and alongside the Rexdale community. To this day, local Rexdale residents play an active role in the implementation of the Rexdale CBA through the CBA’s governance and oversight committees.
The Rexdale CBA requires One Toronto Gaming to achieve a range of social and economic outcomes, including local and social hiring for casino operations and construction-related employment, local and social procurement, responsible gambling measures, a childcare centre and community access to the event venue. Casino Woodbine CBA Infographic.
The positive impact of the Rexdale CBA on the community is immense. Since 2018, more than 3,000 new positions have been created, with 50 per cent of these positions occupied by local residents or equity deserving individuals. In 2024, One Toronto Gaming spent $102.3 million dollars in diverse or local businesses. Community groups have access to designated event and meeting spaces at little or no cost, as a result of the Community Access to Space Policy and Procedure.
The Rexdale CBA is one of several community benefits initiatives associated with the Community Benefits Framework, adopted by Toronto City Council in 2019.
The Rexdale CBA was finalized in 2018, making it the first official Community Benefits Agreement at the City of Toronto. It is a precedent setting agreement and a major accomplishment for all parties involved.
The journey to finalizing the Rexdale Casino Woodbine Community Benefits Agreement took multiple years and involved several parties including local community groups and community organizations, local City Councillors, many City of Toronto divisions, Ontario Lottery Gaming Corporation and One Toronto Gaming.
Community organizing and local Councillor support was a crucial component in the lead up to the Rexdale CBA. Early community engagement can be traced back to 2007 led by Communities Organizing for Responsible Development (CORD), a community coalition. CORD mobilized to voice community concerns around attempts at Casino Woodbine private redevelopment at that time. As the pathway for expansion at the Rexdale Casino site began to form, organizations like Toronto Community Benefits Network (TCBN) mobilized community, elevated the collective community voice and proposed targets and benefits that were in alignment with local community priorities.
To this day, local Rexdale residents play an active role in the implementation of the Rexdale CBA through the CBA’s governance and oversight committees.
As per section 18 of the CBA, both Parties (City of Toronto and One Toronto Gaming) agreed to conduct a review of the agreement every five years commencing in 2018. Section 18 states that if the review identifies amendments to the Agreement that are desirable to both Parties, both Parties shall seek the necessary authority to make such amendments to the Agreement.
The purpose of the Rexdale CBA five-year review is to examine CBA clauses for current relevance, implementation status, outcomes achieved to date and where applicable, propose recommendations for future improvements. The 2018 to 2023 five-year review was led by the Community Benefits Unit in the Social Development division at the City of Toronto, in collaboration with One Toronto Gaming.
The five-year review resulted in the City of Toronto proposing 16 recommendations for improvement, which One Toronto Gaming accepted and began implementing in 2024.
As of December 31, 2024, 11 recommendations were implemented, and 65 action items are completed. Updates can be found in Annual Progress Update reports to City Council.
As part of the CBA’s governance and accountability structure, One Toronto Gaming is required to submit an annual report to City of Toronto on its progress towards the requirements outlined in the Rexdale CBA. City of Toronto staff then bring forward an Annual Progress Update report to Toronto City Council based on the data provided by One Toronto Gaming.
2024 Progress Update Reports:
By searching Rexdale – Casino Woodbine Community Benefits Agreement as a Word or Phrase, all previous Progress Update Reports can be found through the City of Toronto’s Committee and Council Agendas.
The Summary of Progress and Achievements table below presents an overview, up to December 31, 2024. The summary table is updated annually in the first quarter in alignment with the delivery of the annual progress report from One Toronto Gaming.
| Requirement | Target | Progress and Achievements to Date |
|---|---|---|
| Child Care Centre | Contribute $5 million to create a child care centre that will benefit Casino Woodbine employees and local residents. | One Toronto Gaming provided the $5 million contribution in 2018.
Children’s Services completed a feasibility study for the construction of the child care centre in April 2023. The project is included in the 2024-2033 Approved Capital Budget and Plan for Children’s Services. |
| International Marketing Plan for the Woodbine Entertainment Complex3 | Develop and implement an International Marketing Plan by January 1, 2022. | One Toronto Gaming delivered a preliminary plan in 2018.
In 2022, an Amending Agreement was signed to extend the submission deadline of the International Marketing Plan to March 31, 2023. In May 2023, One Toronto Gaming submitted an International Marketing Plan to the City of Toronto. |
| Employment and Labour Market Plan | Develop a 20-year Employment and Labour Market Plan and implement by January 2019. | One Toronto Gaming developed the Employment and Labour Market Plan in 2018.
The Employment and Labour Market Advisory Working Group was established in 2018 to oversee implementation and reporting of outcomes. In 2023, City staff and One Toronto Gaming co-developed a new Employment and Labour Market Plan (2024-2026). The plan will be finalized in March 2024. The plan was finalized in March 2024. |
| Local4 and Social5 Hiring (Operations) | 40 per cent of new hiring through Local or Social Hiring, with minimum of 20 per cent Local Hiring.
Prioritize youth hiring, particularly youth who identify as a member of an Equity-Seeking Group6 40 per cent of total employees have full-time employment7 in the first two years of Expanded Gaming8, rising to 50 per cent after two years. |
In 2024, a total of 392 individuals were hired to support casino operations. Of the 392 individuals hired for casino operations in 2024, 28 per cent (108 individuals) self-identified as a social hire and five per cent (18 individuals) identified as a local hire.
Since 2018, there has been a total of 3,160 new hires as a result of expanded gaming. Of the 3,160, 42 per cent (1,319 individuals) self-identified as a social hire and eight per cent (257 individuals) were local hires. Of the 1,319 individuals who self-identified as a social hire, 20 per cent (264 individuals) self-identified as youth. Categories for self-identification are not mutually exclusive. Of the 1,794 active employees as of December 31, 2024, 61 per cent (1,101 individuals) are employed on a full-time basis and 39 per cent (693 individuals) are employed on a part-time basis. |
| Construction Hiring | By 2022, at least 10 per cent of overall hours worked by trades or craftspeople will be apprentices or journeypersons hired through Local or Social hiring.
Prioritize youth hiring, particularly youth who identify as a member of an Equity-Seeking Group. |
In 2024, a total of 79 individuals were hired for construction related roles. Of the 79 individuals hired, 30 individuals self-identified as a social hire and 5 individuals self-identified as a local hire.
A total of 2,819 people have worked on the redevelopment project since 2018. Of the 2,819 people employed on the construction site since 2018, 29 per cent (807 individuals) self-identified as a social hire and two per cent (65 individuals) self-identified as a local hire. Of the 807 individuals who self-identified as a social hire, 55 per cent (444 individuals) self-identified as youth. Categories for self-identification are not mutually exclusive. |
| Supply Chain Diversity | Develop Supply Chain Diversity Policy and Procedures for non-construction procurement
Starting in 2019, at least 10 per cent of annual non-construction procurement will be through Local9 or Diverse10 Suppliers (specialized gaming procurement exempt). |
One Toronto Gaming developed a Supply Chain Diversity Policy and Procedures in 2019.
In 2024, One Toronto Gaming spent $100.5 million across 18 local suppliers. This represents 33 per cent of their total annual non-construction procurement. In 2024, One Toronto Gaming spent $1.8 million across 3 diverse suppliers. This represents less than one per cent of their total annual procurement. |
| Labour Peace | Respect the role of organized labour, comply with contractual and statutory labour obligations. | In 2024, the City or Community Steering Committee has not received any reports related to One Toronto Gaming failing to comply with contractual or statutory labour obligations. |
| Community Access to Space | Develop Community Access to Space Policy and Procedures.
Make Entertainment Venue space available to local community at little or no cost for at least one large-scale event per month or 12 large-scale events per year. |
Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto opened its entertainment venue on December 31st, 2023.
One Toronto Gaming finalized the Community Access to Space Policy and Procedures in November 2024 and hosted the first community event in December 2024. |
| Responsible Gambling Measures | Maintain all Responsible Gambling Measures at Casino Woodbine. | OLG has confirmed that all Responsible Gambling measures are being met at the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. |
| Negative Impacts of Expanded Gaming | Work with stakeholders to identify any negative impacts of Expanded Gaming and implement mitigation measures. | One Toronto Gaming, the OLG, the Responsible Gambling oversight Committee, and the City of Toronto continue to collaborate to identify risk mitigation approaches, understand player needs and engage community partners. |
| Monitoring and Reporting | Report on requirements of the Agreement on a quarterly and annual basis. | One Toronto Gaming’s 2024 Annual Report was submitted to the City on February 7, 2025.
One Toronto Gaming provided required quarterly reports through the Employment and Labour Market Advisory Working Group. |
| Governance | Establish three committees to be responsible for accountability, transparency, and overall delivery of the Agreement requirements. | Three oversight bodies are active: Community Steering Committee (convened by City of Toronto); Responsible Gambling Oversight Committee (convened by OLG); and Employment and Labour Market Advisory Working Group (convened by One Toronto Gaming). |
[1] Revenue for January 1-March 31, 2020 only. No revenue payments for remainder of 2020 were received as a result of government-mandated closures of Casino Woodbine to reduce the spread of COVID-19.[2] Revenue for July 1-December 31, 2021 only. No revenue payments in Q1 or Q2 2021 (January-June) as a result of government-mandated closures of Casino Woodbine to reduce the spread of COVID-19.[3] Woodbine Entertainment Complex is the integrated entertainment complex including the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto constructed and operated by One Toronto Gaming on the Woodbine Gaming Lands.[4] Local Hiring means the hiring of people who live in the Woodbine Local Area, defined in Attachment 3.[5] Social Hiring means the hiring of people who self-identify with an Equity-seeking Group or people who face unique barriers to employment, including Ontario Works clients.[6] The City of Toronto uses the terminology of “equity-deserving”. Any reference in the report to “equity-seeking” is intended to reflect the terms and definitions included in the Rexdale-Casino Woodbine Community Benefits Agreement.[7] Full-time employment is defined as a minimum of 35 hours per week.[8] Expanded Gaming means the operation of live table games at the Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto. This started in 2018.[9] Local Supplier means a business located in the Woodbine Local Area supplying goods or services.[10] Diverse Supplier means a business that is 51% or more owned or operated by persons from an Equity-seeking group, veteran-owned businesses, or Social Enterprises supplying goods or services.
In 2024 One Toronto Gaming finalized the Community Access to Space Policy and Procedures (CASPP). The CASPP aims to make entertainment venue and boardroom space available to local community organizations at little or no cost, for at least one large-scale event per month, or 12 large-scale events per calendar year.
Community organizations interested in using the entertainment venue and boardroom space can email CommunityEvents@greatcanadian.com for more information.
