Item - 2018.ED30.9

The Economic Development Committee recommends that:

1. City Council increase the 2018 Economic Development and Culture Operating Budget by $0.100 million gross, $0 net, fully funded from the Major Special Events Reserve Fund, to provide a grant to 6 Degrees for the 2018 event.

Building inclusive communities is a critical priority for our city. As we continue to work together to build welcoming and inclusive spaces for all our residents, we are faced with increasing instability around the world. The importance of broadening our work is now more critical than ever – both to building a welcoming and equitable Toronto, but also for the economic and cultural vibrancy of our city. 

The Institute of Canadian Citizenship (ICC) is at the forefront of this critical work. A national charity, the ICC delivers programs and special projects that inspire inclusion, create opportunities to connect, and encourage active citizenship. In 2016, the ICC launched an innovative and dynamic festival in 6 Degrees Citizen Space. 

Supported by the City of Toronto as a Presenting Partner, the inaugural 6 Degrees Citizen Space explored the importance of creating truly inclusive societies through conversation, exchange, and artistic representation. More than 5000 people – politicians, activists, artists, writers, entrepreneurs, and more – and over 130 organizations from across the country and around the world, joined together for 3 days of bold programming and bold conversation. Attendees participated in innovative and diverse exchanges, including the LaFontaine-Baldwin Lecture, a free performance from A Tribe Called Red, the Adrienne Clarkson Prize for Global Citizenship, keynote addresses, one-on-one exchanges and dialogue, and more. 

Over the course of three days, thousands of people gathered and talked – about how to support each other, about their own work and the work of countless citizens across the country, about the problems we need to solve and how to solve them.

The inaugural 6 Degrees had a wide-reaching impact on our city's economic development and vibrancy. Hotel and catering services were critical in 2016, given the overall size and attendance at each of the headline events. Additionally, 6 Degrees events contributed more than $800,000 in 2016 to Toronto's economy, through partnerships with local businesses, venue rentals, staffing, and restaurant and hotel use.

Over the past year, the ICC has been hard at work on 6 Degrees events for 2017. Principal venues will once again be the Art Gallery of Ontario and Koerner Hall/Telus Centre, with free events likely taking place once again at the University of Toronto. 6 Degrees has also committed to hotel spaces, catering for a lunch and two receptions, as well as other informal arrangements already underway.

In 2017, the City of Toronto provided $100,000 in support as a Presenting Partner at 6 Degrees. Given the growing economic and cultural impact, as well as the critical work of 6 Degrees in building conversations about inclusion in our communities,