December 14, 2011 (Milton, ON) – Things are still ‘pedalling forward’ for a velodrome being built as part of the Toronto 2015 Pan/Parapan Am Games (TO2015). Milton town council voted 9-2 in favour of proceeding with the project on December 12 reports the Hamilton Spectator. The council is willing to invest some $17.6 million for the indoor facility, but this is conditional on the total cost not exceeding $40 million.

This follows recent developments where both Hamilton and Vaughn Ontario both bowed out of the race to build a velodrome. Milton is thus the only town still vying for the facility. The next step is a business plan for Milton’s proposed velodrome, and that is expected to be ready in four to six weeks.

While the Milton council had previously been only lukewarm to the velodrome, a promise from Mattamy Homes president and CEO Peter Gilgan sweetened the pot. Gilgan, strong cycling supporter, offered to donate $7 million from his firms and foundation, plus $2 million for naming rights.

Milton Education Village is the proposed site for the velodrome and the town also hopes to locate a campus of Wilfrid Laurier University at the same location. This site is at the intersection of Tremaine and Derry roads..

Milton is situated 40km west of downtown Toronto along Highway 401 and is part of the Halton Regional District with an  population estimated at 88,000.

Read the article in the Hamilton Spectator.