Louroz Mercader

By Iain Colpitts of The Mississauga News. Published April 24, 2012.

Louroz Mercader, president of the Mississauga Youth Games, wants to see the City of Mississauga host the 2014 Ontario Summer Games.

Louroz with Mississauga Mayor McCallion at Mississauga Youth Games 2011

To turn that dream into a reality, he’s trying to gather as much support as possible before he takes his proposal to City Council. He has invited residents and representatives from various sporting groups in the community to an information session on the Games on Saturday morning. The event will be held between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the Mississauga Community Door at 50 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W.

Mercader is currently involved with the hosting committee for the 2012 Summer Games in Toronto and the surrounding area from Aug. 16-19. Over 20 sports are involved and none will take place in Mississauga.

“I think Mississauga has great sport facilities and it would be great to showcase that across the province,” Mercader said.

“In terms of the business case for the Ontario Summer Games is that the economic impact of having 2,500 athletes and their families as well as all the tourists that would come and fill our hotels and restaurants would be very significant.”

The Ontario Summer Games, hosted every two years, began in 1970 as a showcase for youth amateur sport. They have now become the province’s largest multi-sport event, including both team and individual sports.

Mercader believes hosting the 2014 Games would be a good buildup to the 2015 Pan American Games, which are set to take place across the Golden Horseshoe.

Mississauga is currently slated to host judo, tae kwon do, karate and wrestling events.

Municipalities interested in hosting the 2014 Summer Games must submit a proposal to the Sport Alliance of Ontario by May 9. That package must include proposed sites for events, athlete housing and opening ceremonies as well as a transportation plan and proposed budget for the Games.

Mercader stated that budgets for the 2012 Games and the 2010 Games in Sudbury have ranged between $1.2 and $1.5 million. The Sport Alliance of Ontario will provide the host city with a $600,000 grant and Mercader hopes to make up the rest of the money through ticket sales, in-kind services and corporate sponsorship.

December 23, 2011

Mississauga, Canada

Christmas is a joyous time of year and I am happy to extend best wishes to family, friends and colleagues everywhere during this special season.

This year Christmas comes as the global economy, much as our own, continues a slow recovery from the most severe economic downturn in recent memory. Still I continue to be inspired by the generosity of Canadians who notwithstanding continue to make Christmas a season marked by a spirit of generosity and of sharing.

This generosity of spirit has been most recently demonstrated by the awe-inspiring response to my call for increased donations towards the United Way of Peel Region. At the moment we are still short of our campaign goal of $13.93-million which is needed to ensure youth, older adults and new immigrants thrive in our city. It is not too late to donate online today.

In closing I leave with you a selection of Christmas gift suggestions complied by Oren Arnold:

To your enemy, forgiveness.
To an opponent, tolerance.
To a friend, your heart.
To a customer, service.
To all, charity.
To every child, a good example.
To yourself, respect.

My family joins me in wishing you a Merry Christmas, as

well as a peaceful and healthy New Year.

LOUROZ MERCADER

Change happens through ideas and actions. if you want to collaborate to make our city region better, join more than 180 civic leaders for a day of inspiration and action.

City-bulder Louroz Mercader will be speaking at the Emerging Leaders Network conference, “ELNstudio” on December 1, 2011.

Attendees of the ELNstudio will have the opportunity to:

• Hear leadership insights from passionate and talented city-builders, including a keynote address from Dave Meslin, a Toronto-based artist, consultant, trainer and organizer.
• Work together with a diverse group of leaders from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors to address critical issues facing the Toronto region.
• Have an opportunity to pitch collaboratively generated ideas to a panel of experienced civic leaders, moderated by Royson James of The Toronto Star

Join Louroz on December 1 by registering online here.

On November 8, 2011 Louroz Mercader was a guest on CBC’s Radio One, speaking on the Diversity in Local Government segment about the importance of diversity in leadership in the GTA.

The GTA may be proud of its diversity, with 40-percent of Toronto residents not born in Canada, but the composition of local governments doesn’t mirror the population. CBC Radio spoke with Louroz Mercader, a former candidate in Mississauga’s civic election.

Listen to Audio (runs 5:41)

The sixth annual MY Games – Mississauga’s largest free arts and sport youth festival took place on the weekend of October 1 and 2, 2011.

On behalf of the organizing committee, thank you to all our athletes, coaches, volunteers, parents and sponsors for another amazing year! See you in 2012!