At its July meeting Toronto City Council voted to approve the proposal of Leaside’s arena board to convert the existing billboard located on arena property at the intersection of Millwood and Laird to an electronic sign.
The proposal called for advertising on the southeast side only – facing away from Leaside, while the northwest side would display community-related public service messages at the discretion of the arena board, and include identifying graphics of Leaside Memorial Community Gardens.
The rent to be paid by Outfront Media will put $60,000 a year into the arena board’s coffers which will help offset ice rental costs for the community user groups like the Leaside Hockey Association, Leaside Skating Club and the Toronto Leaside Girls Hockey League.
Councillor Jon Burnside supported the proposal and told Council that he had received over 300 signatures on a petition in favour of the plan, as well as 45 emails in support, as compared to just five opposed, one of which was from the LPOA.
Has a precedent now been set for more digital billboards in Leaside?
