Journalism Research and Random Meanderings

Friday, April 23, 2004

Don't Let MLSEL turn Maple Leaf Gardens into a Loblaws!! 

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd.'s (MLSEL) own web site makes one of the best arguments for preserving Maple Leaf Gardens. According to their corporate info page MLSEL () owns the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Raptors, Air Canada Centre, Leafs TV and Raptors NBA TV.

The page goes on to say Toronto Maple Leafs is the number one hockey brand in the world averaging 19,242 fans per game and playing at 102.3% capacity in the 2002-03 season... The Leafs have maintained a solid fan-base since the 1930's. Maple Leafs season seats are commonly willed from one generation to the next. More than 40% of season seat holders pre-date 1970 and 20% pre-date 1950.

"The Friends of Maple Leaf Gardens is a group interested in ensuring the long term existence of The Gardens. Built in 1931, it served for almost 70 years as the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs until they moved to the Air Canada Centre. Since that time The Gardens has been vacant and its future is in some doubt. "

This is not a new issue and we're not alone in it. the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture made an official representation to the City of Toronto Mayor and Council back on August 30, 1990.

On March 23, 1988 the Toronto Historical Board adopted the recommendation that MLG be designated under Part IV of the Ontario Heritage Act and on May 18 and 19 1989 the Toronto City Council adotped the recommendation that it designate the property under the act.

This work is now done by The Toronto Preservation Board : which "advises Toronto City Council on heritage matters relating to the Ontario Heritage Act, identifying buildings, structures and places of architectural and historical importance, listing and designating of properties and reviewing and advising on development proposals that may affect heritage resources."

Want to stay up-to-date on the issue? Google News Alerts will e-mail the latest news on this (or any other issue actually) daily or as it happens. Click the link and put in your e-mail.

I think one of the ways we could could bring some heat on the issue is to bring signs to the Leaf's games at the ACC and chant "Save the Gardens"

Community Heritage Ontario is tracking this and The CHO 2004 Annual Conference will be held May 14-16 in Hamilton, Ontario, in conjunction with the Achitectural Conservancy of Ontario.





Maybe you want to contact the Management of MLSEL directly?

Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Ltd.
40 Bay St., Suite 400
Toronto, ON
M5J 2X2

Main Telephone: 416-815-5500
Main Fax: 416-359-9332

Ask for the The Air Canada Centre Senior Management Team: directly;

Richard Peddie, President & CEO

Ken Dryden, Vice Chairman, MLSEL

Ian Clarke, Executive Vice President & CFO, Business Development

John Lashway VP, Communications & Community Dev.

Robin Brudner, Senior VP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary

Dave Hopkinson, Vice President, Corporate Sales & Service

While you're at it it might not hurt to let the Air Canada Centre Corporate Partners: know what you think.

Ottawa's Hightech Who's Who Directory - canada.com 

Ottawa's Hightech Who's Who Directory - canada.com: "Who's Who in High Tech provides a concise 'corporate snapshot' of manufacturers or developers of computer related equipment - hardware or software, consultants and trainers included, in 100 words."

Tuesday, April 20, 2004

Information for NameBase crawlers 

NameBase: "has information on over 127,000 proper names. These are names of prominent people, corporations, and groups from all over the world. Almost all of these names are from books and clippings that are not available elsewhere on the Internet. It took us 20 years to compile this information"

I haven't begun to use this site but blogged it so i would remember to come back to it.

The most interesting feature is that it will draw a "social network diagram" for a given name. It is a little short on hard info about how they do what they do but the results are interesting.

I was looking for information on former MP and Mulroney cabinet minister Sinclair Stevens for an article and namebase drew a Social Network Diagram for STEVENS SINCLAIR based partly(?) on the index(?) of "Who Owns Canada?"

You can click on the other names and get a social network diagram for that name.

N.B. it only lets you do a few for free then asks for money.