Fonds RG 5 - Exhibition Stadium Corporation fonds

The Board of Management of the Exhibition Stadium Corporation held its inaugural meeting on July 14, 1975. At this meeting, William Allen, Q.C., was unanimously elected Chairman of the seven-member Board. Other representatives were drawn from the Canadian National Exhibition Association, Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto and the Province of Ontario. Despite the formation and functioning of the Board of Management at this time, only a draft agreement existed between the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto and the "Exhibition Stadium Corporation" to provide for the establishment and operation of the Corporation and its Board, and the transfer of management and control of CNE Stadium from the Canadian National Exhibition Association to the Corporation.

It was not until November 18, 1975 that the Exhibition Stadium Corporation was established pursuant to the provisions of section 207a of the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto Act. Its mandate was to operate, manage, and maintain Exhibition Stadium for the holding of athletic and sporting events, public entertainment, and meetings. The Corporation was given the power to enter into contracts in its own name, to sue and be sued, and all powers necessary to attain the purpose and objectives of the Corporation. The Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto reserved the right to enact by-laws establishing general policies to be followed by the Corporation, audit the accounts of the Corporation, receive any surplus revenue or assume responsibility for all losses, and approve the borrowing of money by the Corporation.

Section 207a also officially established the Board of Management of the Exhibition Stadium Corporation, responsible for the supervision of the management and business affairs of the Corporation. Its seven members consisted of three appointees from the membership of the Canadian National Exhibition Association, two members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council, the Metropolitan Chairman or his/her delegate (a member of Metropolitan Council), and one member appointed by Metro Council (a member of Metropolitan Council).

On January 1, 1976, the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto delivered control of CNE Stadium, renamed Exhibition Stadium, to the Exhibition Stadium Corporation. Initially, the Corporation's staff consisted of two positions, General Manager and Secretary to the General Manager. The General Manager was responsible for the overall operation of the Stadium.

In 1977, the General Manager requested that the Board of Management approve an increase in the Corporation's administrative staff with the addition of the positions of Administrative Assistant (to the General Manager) and Operations Manager. The Administrative Assistant assumed the responsibilities of the General Manager in his absence, as well as the handling of all accounting matters. The Operations Manager was charged with overseeing the day-to-day maintenance and operation of the facility, and served as a liaison between the Corporation and the Stadium's tenants and service contractors.

By 1983, the Corporation's personnel had expanded to include clerical support to the Administrative Assistant and a receptionist, answering to the Secretary to the General Manager. The Operations Manager's position was expanded to include responsibility for parking at Exhibition Place, and the position renamed Traffic and Stadium Operations Manager.

It was also in 1983, that control of Exhibition Place was assumed by the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto with the creation of the Board of Governors of Exhibition Place. Responsible for the management and maintenance of Exhibition Stadium was vested in the new Board, resulting in the dissolution of Exhibition Stadium Corporation and its Board of Management. However, the same personnel and positions were retained, with the only substantive change being that they now answered to the Board of Governors.

Although the Exhibition Stadium Corporation ceased to exist in 1983, in so far as the staff and the Municipality of Metropolitan Toronto were concerned, the Exhibition Stadium Corporation's Letters Patent was not cancelled until January 27, 1987.