wfn.org | Toronto Mayor Welcomes Adventist Delegation

[APD <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

June 26, 2000
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schäffler, Editor-in-chief
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland 
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
www.stanet.ch/APD/2000/GK 

Toronto Mayor Welcomes Adventist Delegation	

Toronto, Canada, 26.06.2000 - Mel Lastman, mayor 
of Toronto, welcomed the  Seventh-day Adventist 
Church to town June 26 at a press conference 
called to announce the start of the Church's World 
Session on June 29. 

"We are honoured and delighted to host this major 
Church convention here in Toronto," said Lastman. 
"We promise peace, serenity and safety, together 
with thousands of welcomes from the most 
culturally diverse city in the world." 

Lastman also referred to the similarity between 
the city of Toronto and the Adventist Church in 
its representation from many nations and 
languages. 

You will find more than 100 languages and even 
more nationalities here in Toronto," he said. "May 
the magic of the city of Toronto match the magic 
of your Church with its 11 million members. 
Adventists are wonderful people, with 20,000 in 
Ontario, including two in my own office. We are 
delighted that you have chosen Toronto." 

Responding, Jan Paulsen, president of the 
Adventist Church, thanked the mayor and said that 
Toronto's international flavour meant that the 
Adventist World Church would feel at home, and 
looked forward to a profitable time in the city. 

"As a Church we have a primary spiritual agenda 
which comes from Scripture," said Paulsen. "But 
our Lord also took a strong interest in the 
community in which he was placed. So we too look 
to improve the quality of life of people here and 
now. Today has to be better than yesterday. Our 
mission around the world has always emphasized 
education for the community, and health through 
hospitals and clinics." 

Noting the city's interest in hosting events such 
as the Olympics, Paulsen noted that the Session 
was "not quite the Olympics," but that it would 
"give your city an opportunity to display your 
vast skills at hosting such a large event as 
this." 

Orville Parchment, president of the Adventist 
Church in Canada added that "we are very excited 
that Session is being held in Canada for the first 
time," and thanked the World Church for choosing 
to come to Toronto. 

Gino Ginacola of Tourism Toronto said that the 
Session would be truly exceptional in that it was 
the largest ever convention in Toronto's history, 
and would have an exceptional economic benefit due 
to the numbers attending and the length of stay. 
He anticipated that the arrival of so many 
Adventist visitors would "bring CAN$50 million 
into the economy of the city and the province. 

"This event will raise awareness of Toronto for 
other major conventions that can be staged here by 
other international organizations," said Giancola. 
"It will also solidify Toronto as a venue for the 
religious market sector and others." He also 
thanked the SkyDome, the Toronto Blue Jays, and 
the baseball League for being willing to hold 
their games outside of Toronto so that the 
Adventist Church could have use of the SkyDome for 
the Session. 

The World Session runs from June 29 to July 5 and 
is expected to bring 60,000 visitors to Toronto. 
(News editor: Jonathan Gallagher for ANN/APD)

© Adventist News Network (ANN)/Adventist Press 
Service (APD)