June 11, 2013 (Milton, ON) – The groundbreaking ceremony was held at the Milton Velodrome on Friday, June 7. The new facility is part of the infrastructure needed to host the 2015 Toronto Pan/Parapan Am Games (TO2015).

When finished, the 250m indoor velodrome will be among the largest and most modern in North America. To celebrate, many politicians and top names from the cycling world in Canada were on hand for this landmark occasion.

Among the 75 present were TO2015 CEO Ian Troop, Bal Gosal Minister of State (Sport), Milton Mayor Gord Krantz, Lisa Raitt (Minister of Labour and Member of Parliament-Halton), Laura Albanese (Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, MPP York South-Weston), Mattamy Homes CEO Peter Gilgan, Tim Hockey (President & CEO, TD Canada Trust), Paul Devries of Oakville High Performance Cycling Center, Greg Mathieu (CEO Cycling Canada), Roger Garland (Chair of TO2015), Howard Chang (Pan Am 2015 Velodrome Capital Campaign), and former Olympians and cycling greats Curt Harnett and Steve Bauer.

The new 154,000-square-foot facility is expected to cost $56 million and scheduled to open in September, 2014. The groundbreaking ceremony had originally been planned for April 11, but had to be postponed because of a late season snowfall. The team responsible for the project visited several velodromes throughout the world to learn about the pros and cons to build a world class facility.

Troop urged those gathered “not to think of this as just a velodrome,” but rather as a full-fledged and versatile community centre. The facility will include:

– 250 metre Category 1 Homologated (certified) Cycling Track
– Infield area suitable for basketball, volleyball, badminton and trade events
– 300 sq. metre fitness and conditioning centre with private area for spinning, yoga and pilates classes
– 300 metre walking/jogging track
– Training and events for local, regional, provincial, national and International levels
– Track cycling development programs for all ages and abilities
– Cross training for all cycling disciplines
– Bike pro/repair shop
– Cycling and community change rooms
– Sport programs (basketball, volleyball, badminton and other sport activities)
– Fitness classes/active living programs
– Multi-purpose meeting room (accommodates 30 people)
– Office space
– Cafe

Harnett spoke of the excitement he felt for the future young cyclists who would have the opportunity to explore their abilities at a world class facility called it “a dream becoming reality” that will turn the Milton area into a “…mecca for cycling in Canada.”

The 2015 Toronto Pan Am Games will take place from July 10-26 and the Parapan Am Games from August 7-14.

More information about the Milton Velodrome here.