2 The TOWN “Development is the operative word in Ajax for sure,” says Paul Allore, Director of Planning and Development for the Town of Ajax, Ontario. “We’re always either leading in the region or in the one-two in terms of building permit activity.” 3 by the LAKE “Revitalizing the downtown core has been an ongoing commitment for Ajax’s Council.” Written by Anne Lindert-Wentzell nown as Ajax by the Lake for its seven kilometres of protected frontage along Lake Ontario, the Town of KAjax is located east of the Greater Toronto Area in the Durham region in Southern Ontario’s eastern section of the Golden Horseshoe. At 110,000, Ajax’s population has doubled in the past 20 years. Ajax was incorporated as a town in 1955 and is currently one of the fastest growing economic areas in the province. Ajax can attribute its beginning to World War II and the subse- quent establishment of Defence Industries Limited (D.I.L) in 1941. D.I.L was North America’s largest defence industry players, pro- viding supplies for World War II allies through its munitions plant. As a war plant community, workers came from across Canada to work at D.I.L. The name Ajax was selected because the HMS Ajax, along with her sister ships, the HMS’s Exeter and Achilles, were successful in the first British naval victory against the German battleship Graf Spee at the Battle of the River Plate near Uruguay, South America. “Most of the streets in Ajax are named after the sailors in that battle,” explains Paul. When location is everything Being located on the 401 corridor, a vital economic link across Southern, Central and Eastern Ontario, has been advanta- 4 geous to Ajax’s growth considering that the highway is North America’s busiest. A new 400 series highway, the 407 East toll highway extension, and the high speed interchange link, will run north of the 401 and is currently in Phase I of construction with Phase II expected to be completed in 2020. Speaking and will serve the Greater Toronto and Golden Horseshoe about the 407 East extension, Paul notes that, “this is just on the regions. The airport is expected to be operational by 2037 and border of Ajax. It’s going to be huge for our economic growth.” Paul adds, “Just knowing that it’s coming helps.” Plans for the construction of the new Pickering airport were Developing key sectors announced in 2013. Pickering airport will be located a short Going forward, Ajax’s economic development strategy focuses distance from Ajax and will prove to be a huge economic driver on the development of four key sectors including healthcare, for the region. The airport is expected to cost over $2 billion business and professional services, manufacturing and tourism. Ajax’s Rogue Valley Health System (RVHS) community hospital, “Pickering airport will be located a founded in 1954, serves the communities of east Toronto and west Durham and underwent a $94 million redevelopment in short distance from Ajax and will 2010. Major expansion included a new intensive care unit and an prove to be a huge economic driver emergency room. Paul notes that the expansion has proved to for the region.” be “a key in helping to attract people and investment in the com- 5 munity. It’s a quality hospital within the community and has really served us well.” Recent reports indicate that although not in a merger at the current time, RVHS and The Scarborough Hospital (TSH), east of Toronto, are planning an integration of services to better coordinate and improve patient care for selected services. This opportunity for integration will be imple- mented late in 2014 and into 2015. With close to 2000 businesses in the Town of Ajax and a work force of 85,000, Ajax encourages and assists businesses in their start up and expansion plans in the area. Paul notes that the latest major expan- sion, just completed last year, was at Intact Insurance, Canada’s largest home, auto and business insurance provider. Intact has been in Ajax for a number of years KEEPING FIT IN AJAX and its 40,000 square foot expansion reaf- firms the firm’s commitment to the town The U.S. based fitness company, Lifetime Fitness, established in by providing a much needed service 1992, has 105 locations in the United States and is proposing to and accommodating growing business build a high end fitness facility on a 13 acre site in Ajax. “There needs. Intact Insurance currently employs was a vacant lot on the 401 interchange,” shares Paul. “There’s not 200 people and the expansion will create many of those on an interchange, so they saw that as a great thing.” an additional 200 jobs. The three-storey, 12,000 square metre facility is expected to cost There are also a number of large plants in approximately $25 million, employing over 200 full time and 110 Ajax, including Logistics in Motion Inc., a part-time employees. The company has another facility in Missis- one million square foot freight forwarding sauga, Ontario and wanted to “anchor the east end of Toronto.” company employing 700, and SAFRAN Messier-Bugatti-Dowty Inc., a manufac- turer of landing gears for the aeronautical Paul suggests that Ajax was chosen for the new facility because, industry employing over 600. “we really lined up with their lifestyle visions… our 100 kilometre trail system goes right by their facility which they plan to take Paul explains that, “We’ve had good advantage of for jogging, cycling and such.” success on the manufacturing and dis- tribution side,” and notes that one of The facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2014. Ajax’s newest expansions, M.A. Stewart and Sons, established in 1955, now has a 30,000 square foot facility in the town. The company distributes valves and fittings to both the commercial and industrial industries and currently employs a staff of 20. Speaking about developing the tourism sector, Paul shares that, “On the tourism 6 ongoing commitment for Ajax’s town Council, and it is anticipated that the financial benefit for Ajax and region will be $2.6 billion by 2053. “Ajax is well positioned to accommodate tourists and host business conventions with its Hilton The nine acre Vision at Pat Bayly Square Garden Inn and Ajax Convention Centre.” development will include a civic square with a 24 storey rental tower includ- side we’ve been aggressive and very strategic in terms of what happens at our inter- ing ground floor retail and commercial change lands with the 401.” Ajax is well positioned to accommodate tourists and host space, public transit, and pedestrian business conventions with its Hilton Garden Inn and Ajax Convention Centre, the amenities. The development will provide award recipient for “Reader’s Choice Diamond Award for Premiere Banquet Facility in a gateway into downtown Ajax and Paul Durham Region.” Both sites are easily accessed from the 401 highway. enthusiastically states that, “We put that [development] completely through our In addition, Ajax’s latest Homewood Suites by Hilton will represent a $20 million devel- process and had building permits issued opment that will be open in May 2014. The hotel will be located adjacent to the Hilton in just under a year.” Garden Inn and the Convention Centre. The six-storey hotel will benefit the region, especially considering that Ajax will be hosting the Pan Am Games baseball and Setting priorities softball events in July 2015. The Town of Ajax is Ontario’s first munici- pality to be ISO 9001:2000 registered and The hotel is expected to create 60 hospitality jobs and says Paul, “It’s an extended stay the first Canadian recipient to earn the hotel which is very popular with business… these units have kitch- enettes, a living area and one or two bedrooms, so they’re like little apartments for [business people] to come and stay.” It’s anticipated that with this new development Ajax will be seen as a premier con- vention site for the Durham region. In 2012, the ground breaking of another new landmark for Ajax came in the form of the ‘Vision at Pat Bayly Square’ development, a $300 million mixed-use development in the town’s downtown area – a first for Durham region. Revitalizing the downtown core has been an 7 LEAVING A LEGACY The city of Toronto will be hosting the 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games in July and August. Seven thousand athletes from North and South America, the Caribbean and Latin American will participate in the event. Competitive Ready Seal in 2012. This Seal recognizes several There will be 36 Pan Am and 15 Parapan sports best practice measures toward making business transition into scheduled with a number of municipalities the community much easier. involved in this world-class competition. The criteria to being deemed Competitive Ready is stringent and auditors evaluate numerous considerations including Ajax is one of the municipalities selected to host physical infrastructure, sustainable practices, business climate the Pan Am men’s and women’s baseball and and organizational effectiveness, all areas in which Ajax earned softball events at its existing Ajax Sportsplex, the highest scores. referred to as the President’s Choice PanAm Ball Park. Upgrades to the facility are expected Particularly impressive is Ajax’s Priority Path™ municipal process to cost approximately eight to nine million to assist business expansion. Priority Path™ customers receive dollars and will draw at least 125,000 visitors expedited site plan and building approvals so that they can get over a two week period.