Farewell to our Chair Mark Wilson

Image
a man smiling up at the blue sky

Few people can say that they have successfully spent 14 years serving on a Board of Directors that is responsible for overseeing one of North America’s largest urban revitalization projects - but Mark Wilson can.


PUBLISHED: DECEMBER 13, 2016
BY: ANDREA KELEMEN

Since January 2002, Mark has served as a valued member of our Board of Directors and has served as Chair since 2007.  During his tenure at Waterfront Toronto, Mark has attended 376 Board and Committee meetings and has served with 31 Board members.  Throughout the years, he has also watched the political landscape and three orders of government change multiple times with:

  • 4 Mayors
  • 4 Prime Ministers, 7 Federal Ministries, 6 Federal Ministers
  • 4 Ontario Premiers, 5 Provincial Ministries, 8 Provincial Ministers

Mark’s passion for city-building and environmental issues is evident through the decades he’s invested in various revitalization efforts.  He was the founding Chair of both the City of Toronto’s Task Force to Bring Back the Don and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s Don Watershed Regeneration Council, as well as serving on the Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid Environment Committee. He was also a member of the 1999 Waterfront Revitalization Task Force that led to the creation of Waterfront Toronto.

Yesterday marked the final Board meeting for Mark as his term comes to an end later this month.  

Throughout the years, Mark has been the public face of Waterfront Toronto’s Board of Directors and he’s supported and promoted all of our achievements and milestones along the way.  He has devoted his time representing the Corporation at endless groundbreaking and ribbon cutting events, opening celebrations, public meetings, community tours, and other special events.

Official Ribbon Cutting for Corktown CommonSpadina WaveDeck Opening Celebration

Top: At the Corktown Common Ribbon Cutting Ceremony (July 2014).  Bottom: The Spadina WaveDeck Opening Celebration (September 2008)

Official Opening of the Martin Goodman Trail at Ontario PlaceQueens Quay Groundbreaking

Top: Official Opening of the Martin Goodman Trail at Ontario Place (September 2009)  Bottom: Queens Quay Groundbreaking Event (November 2012)

Sherbourne Common Opening CelebrationPort Lands Due Diligence Announcement

Top image: The Opening Celebration for Sherbourne Common South (September 2010)  Bottom photo: Funding Announcement for Port Lands Due Diligence Study (July 2015)


Mark has been instrumental in leading us through various phases of revitalization - from the early days of planning and design into development and construction.  As we continue to revitalize the waterfront and focus on implementing our vision for the future, we’d like to thank Mark for his dedication, enthusiasm and hard work over the last 14 years.  We’re going to miss his guidance and hope that he will continue to be a champion of the waterfront.
Mark Wilson on the Simcoe WaveDeck
Check out this short video that highlights Mark’s time serving as the Chair on our Board of Directors.


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