Press Release
TORONTO, Oct. 19, 2012 /CNW/ – Global
leisure giant Merlin Entertainments, the world's second biggest
visitor attraction operator, is proud to announce the official
groundbreaking of the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Toronto at Vaughan
Mills, one of the Greater Toronto Area's (GTA) premier shopping
and entertainment destinations, owned and operated by Ivanhoé
Cambridge.
The groundbreaking ceremony, attended
by the Honourable Michael Chan, Minister of Tourism, Culture and
Sport, Steven Del Duca, MPP for Vaughan, the Hon. Maurizio
Bevilacqua, Mayor of the City of Vaughan, James Burleigh, Divisional
Director, Midway Developments, Merlin Entertainments, and George
Fiddler, Senior Vice President, Retail, Central North America,
Ivanhoé Cambridge was capped off by a front-end loader dumping
50,000 LEGO® bricks to mark the start of construction.
"We are so excited about bringing
the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre to Toronto," said James Burleigh
of Merlin Entertainments, operators of the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre.
"This new attraction will be the ultimate destination for
children who are in love with LEGO and we can't wait until we get to
open the doors to families in the spring."
"Ontario welcomes world-class
attractions like the LEGOLAND Discovery Centre," said Minister
Chan. "Merlin Entertainments' choice of Vaughan for its first
location in Canada confirms Ontario's reputation as a great
destination for tourism investors and a great place for families to
live and to visit. This unique venue will generate jobs and growth in
the GTA and across Ontario."
Opening in spring 2013, the $12 million
LEGOLAND Discovery Centre Toronto is the first of its kind in Canada.
The family attraction will employ a staff of approximately 100
people.
The 34,000 square-foot indoor
attraction will be geared towards children ages 3-10 and their
families, perfect for little LEGO® fans. The LEGOLAND Discovery
Centre will feature over three million LEGO bricks and consist of
several interactive features including hands-on play areas, a 4D
cinema, master classes from LEGO Model Builders, LEGO rides, special
party rooms and MINILAND®, the venue's signature recreation of
Ontario landmarks, made out of LEGO bricks.
"The City of Vaughan welcomes this
wonderful new attraction to our growing community," said Vaughan
Mayor Maurizio Bevilacqua. "We are proud to have worked with
Merlin Entertainments Group to make the City of Vaughan the site
of the first LEGOLAND Discovery Centre in Canada. This world-class
entertainment venue will be a fun and exciting addition to an area of
our City that already attracts millions of visitors every year and we
are thrilled to add LEGOLAND to our dynamic and vibrant community."
"As a leading owner and manager of
shopping centres across Canada, Ivanhoé Cambridge continually
strives to provide best-in-class experiences for consumers in all its
properties." said George Fiddler of Ivanhoé Cambridge. "The
decision by Merlin Entertainments to build a LEGOLAND Discovery
Centre at Vaughan Mills, already one of GTA's premier shopping and
entertainment destinations, reinforces the centre's reputation as a
distinct tourist attraction."
Next up for LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
Toronto will be the first ever Canadian Brickfactor, a competition to
find Toronto's Master Model Builder. LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
Toronto will be holding the event on Nov. 24th to 25th at Pawsway
Toronto located at Toronto's Harbourfront to audition skilled LEGO
craftspeople with a passion for the brand in order to become the
attraction's superstar builder. This unconventional job provides an
opportunity to turn a beloved childhood pastime into a dream career.
Interested builders can find out more at
www.LEGOLANDDiscoveryCentre.ca.
Source: LEGOLAND Discovery Centre
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