A Summer's Journey Passport is the Key to Waterfront Excitement

Toronto: May 23, 1997: The Waterfront Regeneration Trust and the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce invite you to take a Summer's Journey along the Lake Ontario waterfront. The key to this journey is a $5 dollar passport which contains the journey's itinerary, and which also represents an opportunity to help regenerate the waterfront.

The Summer's Journey passport guides families and visitors to 45 events, festivals and celebrations hosted in communities along the Lake Ontario, Niagara River and St. Lawrence River waterfronts. As well, there is an international dimension to the Journey with events taking place in Niagara Falls, Lewiston and Youngstown, all located in New York State. The events begin in May and continue until October.

The passport includes information on each event -- including directions, admission charges (if any), parking advice and a detailed event description. It also includes tips about special places along the Waterfront Trail, which winds through many of the communities hosting Summer's Journey events.

Stretching 325 kms along the shore of Lake Ontario from Stoney Creek to Trenton the Waterfront Trail is an important step in bringing the vision of a regenerated waterfront closer to reality.

"The Waterfront Trail links the diversity and beauty of the waterfront," said David Crombie, chair of the Waterfront Regeneration Trust. "The Trail, along with the Summer's Journey passport, connects people to as many as 177 natural areas, 143 parks and promenades, 80 marinas and yacht clubs, hundreds of historic places, fairs, museums, art galleries and festivals."

A Summer's Journey is another step in the five-year partnership between CIBC and the Waterfront Regeneration Trust. The Waterfront Regeneration Trust was created in 1992 to coordinate the regeneration of the waterfront in partnership with local communities, businesses and governments. In November 1996, CIBC became a partner of the Trust and is donating $1 million over five years to support its work.

CIBC is supporting a Summer's Journey by selling passports through local branches as a fundraising initiative, with all proceeds going directly to the Trust and its municipal partners for ongoing waterfront and community projects.

"CIBC is proud to be a partner with the Trust in presenting A Summer's Journey - an initiative designed to promote the many vibrant activities and locales which are part of the Lake Ontario waterfront" , said Al Flood, CIBC chairman and chief executive officer.

Summer's Journey passports can be stamped at each event. Passport holders who collect 12 event stamps could win one of three grand prizes including two trips for two to anywhere Air Canada flies (plus $1000 spending money courtesy of CIBC), and a Liberty cellular phone plus an eighteen-month calling package from Bell Mobility. All passport buyers -- stamps or no stamps -- are also eligible to enter a draw for over 35 other exciting prizes donated by a variety of corporations and waterfront businesses.

Both the Waterfront Regeneration Trust and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce have created web sites where people can learn more about the Summer's Journey. On the CIBC site, people can use the Branch locater to see which CIBC Branches are participating by selling passports. A visit to the Trust's site any time after it launches on May 31st counts as a stamp in the passport.

In addition to Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce sponsors of the Summer's Journey are: General Motors of Canada, GO Transit, Montclair Natural Spring Water, Bell Mobility, Air Canada, The FAN 590, The Levy Coughlin Partnership, and Stella Pharmaceuticals makers of Nutribars.

Supporters of Summer's Journey include: Toronto Entertainment District Association, Queen's Quay Terminal, Maple Lodge Farms, and Minolta Canada Inc.

Media contacts:
Marlaine Koehler, Director,
Waterfront Regeneration Trust
Tel: (416) 943-8080 Fax: (416) 943-8068
e-mail: webmaster@wrtrust.com
or
Rob McLeod Regional Director (Ontario),
CIBC, Corporate Communications
tel. 416-980-3714; fax. 416-363

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