TIFF Names Reitman Square In Honour Of Leslie And Clara Reitman
Toronto – Piers Handling, Director and CEO of TIFF and Ward 20 Councillor Adam Vaughan today officially named Reitman Square, the footprint that will house TIFF Bell Lightbox, the year-round home for TIFF, opening on September 12. Mr. Handling and Councillor Vaughan were joined by renowned director and producer Ivan Reitman, Agi Mandel and Susan Michaels, who in partnership with The Daniels Corporation donated the land. Director and producer Jason Reitman, a member of TIFF’s Artists’ Committee, joined the family to celebrate this exciting occasion.
Situated on King Street, between John and Widmer in the heart of the Entertainment District, the square is named in honour of Leslie and Clara Reitman, the parents of Mr. Reitman, Ms. Mandel and Ms. Michaels.
“Leslie and Clara persevered through hardships to bring their family to Canada and create a life for them,” said Handling. “Ivan, Agi and Susan’s recognition of their parents’ commitment and vision has played a vital role in the realization of this dream, building a home for film at TIFF Bell Lightbox. On behalf of the Board of Directors, the staff and film lovers from around the world, we are delighted to dedicate Reitman Square to Leslie and Clara.”
The Reitman family came to Canada after World War II from their native Czechoslovakia. They purchased Farb’s Car Wash at the corner of King and John Street in the mid-1960s. In 2001 TIFF went to market to find land to house TIFF Bell Lightbox. Additionally, TIFF was seeking a partner to develop the property. During the tendering process, one proposal of nearly 20 submitted truly resonated with TIFF. The partners of that proposal were the Reitman Family and The Daniels Corporation, in which they expressed their enthusiastic support and belief in both Toronto and TIFF. That commitment is clearly evident nearly ten years later as TIFF prepares to open TIFF Bell Lightbox on September 12.
Together, The Daniels Corporation and the Reitman family formed the King and John Festival Corporation (KJFC) and donated the land to TIFF, as well as all of their management fees to build TIFF Bell Lightbox.
About TIFF Bell Lightbox
TIFF Bell Lightbox, a breathtaking five-storey complex located in downtown Toronto, provides a permanent home for film lovers to celebrate cinema from around the world and propels TIFF forward as an international leader in film culture. Designed by innovative architecture firm KPMB, TIFF Bell Lightbox’s fluid structure encourages exploration, movement and play. The campaign to build TIFF Bell Lightbox is generously supported by lead sponsor Bell, the Province of Ontario, the Government of Canada, the King and John Festival Corporation – consisting of the Reitman family and the Daniels Corporation – RBC as major sponsor and official bank, major sponsor BlackBerry, Visa†, the Copyright Collective of Canada, the Slaight Family Foundation, The Daniels Corporation, NBC Universal Canada, the Brian Linehan Charitable Foundation, the Harbinger Foundation, Mackenzie Financial, CIBC and BMO. The Board of Directors, staff and many generous individuals and corporations have also contributed to the campaign. For more information on the TIFF Bell Lightbox campaign, visit tiff.net/tiffbelllightbox.
About TIFF
TIFF is a not-for-profit cultural organization whose mission is to transform the way people see the world through film. Its vision is to lead the world in creative and cultural discovery through the moving image. TIFF generates an annual economic impact of $170 million CAD and currently employs more than 100 full-time staff and 500 part-time and seasonal staff, and counts upon the largesse of over 2,000 volunteers year-round.
TIFF is generously supported by Lead Sponsor Bell, Major Sponsors RBC and BlackBerry, the Government of Ontario, the Government of Canada and the City of Toronto.
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