A look back: the Toronto 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games

What remarkable Games they were – both Pan Am and Parapan Am!

Our aim at the TTC was to showcase a world-class transit system, both locally and to the international community. It’s safe to say we didn’t just fulfill this goal – we surpassed it.

We’ve put together a short video recap of the efforts put into the Games, including a few guests who also wanted to add a word of thanks. You can watch this video on YouTube, the TTC intranet (internal website) or on TTC-TV screens at work locations across the organization.

We began preparing for this summer five years ago. Leading up to the Games, representatives from key groups took part in the planning process. Together, we conducted readiness exercises, completed extensive training and accelerated equipment purchases. We made sure maintenance and construction work was scheduled before or after Pan/Parapan Am. We improved vehicle availability, and made sure all elevators and escalators were operational during the Games. And we installed new wayfinding signage, and meticulously cleaned stations – these are just a few examples of the work done to get the TTC ready.

Service was excellent during the Games. Spectators and volunteers moved seamlessly to and from venues while service levels were maintained for regular customers. We opened the subway early – at 6 a.m. – on Sundays, and put out extra service on Games network routes and accessible service to all venues.
Service disruptions and incident response times were minimized. Structure maintenance response teams, bus and streetcar Supervisors and Transit Enforcement mobile rapid response teams were always at the ready should any issue arise.

We rolled out and implemented new and improved communications systems – including the activation of the temporary Communication and Co-ordination Centre (C3), where communication was co-ordinated, both internally and with partner organizations across the city.

Over 1,600 Games Ambassadors were recruited and deployed – filling 7,344 Ambassador shifts, located at key stations and transit hubs to help customers and spectators find their way and welcome visitors to our great city.

We built partnerships with other organizations, including the City of Toronto, the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) and Metrolinx.

Many of you gave up prime vacation time to do a great job and to keep Toronto moving – and your hard work and dedication showed. The success of these games was about working together and pulling together as one team, with one vision.

We managed to show the city – and the world – that given the right resources we are truly a transit system that makes Toronto proud.

On behalf of the TTC Executive Team, I thank you for making these Games a success.

I would also like to extend a special word of thank you to Scott Haskill, who lead on four years of planning and to Sho Kalache, our Pan Am Games Co-ordinator, who oversaw every detail related to the Pan Am Games throughout this past year.

I encourage all of you to maintain the legacy of these Games as you continue to do your best each day going forward. Thank you all for a job well done!

Sincerely,

Chris Upfold
Deputy CEO/Chief Customer Officer
September 18, 2015