A new GO Station at Woodbine Racetrack will anchor the development of a 684-acre property in Toronto’s northwest end. (Image courtesy of Woodbine Entertainment and Metrolinx)
Woodbine Racetrack, the home of Canada’s longest continuously run sporting event, is set to be transformed with a new Metrolinx GO Station and one of Canada’s most ambitious urban developments.
Property owner Woodbine Entertainment has announced plans for a vibrant, transit-connected urban centre in northwest Toronto that it says will deliver tens of thousands of new homes, jobs and economic opportunities. Centered around the historic racetrack, which hosts such events as The King’s Plate, the Pepsi North America Cup and multiple Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series races, the project is also expected to create new revenue streams to support horse racing, a sport with a 250-year history in Canada.
Situated on 684 acres of land — the largest undeveloped parcel of land remaining in the City of Toronto — the new urban centre is expected to take shape over the next 25 years, supporting an estimated 43,000 construction jobs while helping to address housing affordability and employment needs in Toronto.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create something truly special for Toronto,” said Michael Copeland, CEO of Woodbine Entertainment. “At the heart of this new urban centre will be Woodbine Racetrack, a cultural landmark that will now also serve as the centrepiece of a thriving, inclusive and connected city within a city.”
The project will be unlocked by Woodbine Entertainment’s committed partnership with Metrolinx and a $170 million investment towards a new GO Transit station on the Kitchener Line. The station will be less than 30 minutes from Union Station and will connect with the UP Express and Pearson International Airport, making Rexdale a transit hub.
Woodbine says the development will include affordable housing, including new accommodations to replace the existing dormitories for backstretch workers who care for the 1,700 horses stabled at the horse racing facility. Woodbine Entertainment, which operates like a not-for-profit corporation, will develop and retain ownership of the land and explore strategic joint ventures to generate ongoing revenue that will continue to support horse racing in Ontario.
“The construction of the new GO Station at Woodbine, along with the broader Woodbine Development project, is already creating meaningful job opportunities for our members,” stated Jack Oliveira, business manager for LiUNA Local 183 and LiUNA OPDC. “Together, these projects are not only improving vital transit infrastructure, they’re driving large-scale growth, generating thousands of good-paying jobs for LiUNA Local 183 members, and playing a key role in strengthening the communities where our members live and work.”
“This isn’t just about building housing. It’s about creating a complete community, a connected urban centre, with culture, entertainment, green space and horse racing at the heart of it all,” added Copeland. “On behalf of Woodbine Entertainment, I want to sincerely thank Premier Ford and the government of Ontario, including Minister Sarkaria, Minister Surma, and their dedicated teams, as well as Mayor Chow, councillor Crisanti and City of Toronto staff for helping bring this bold vision to life.”
