Mass Exodus 2013 is proud to be the first large-scale non-athletic event held in the Mattamy Athletic Centre within the historic Maple Leaf Gardens, since it’s resurrection in August 2012. The Maple Leaf Gardens was home to some of the most significant moments in Canadian history. It housed the infamous Toronto Maple Leafs from 1931 to 1999, and saw the rise of eleven Stanley Cups in its time.
During its peak, the Maple Leaf Gardens was home to many momentous events and sporting teams, including the Summit Series, Elvis Presley, the Toronto Huskies and the Toronto Raptors. Due to the rise of new athletic venues, the arena was closed in 2000 and the building was left mostly dormant for the next decade. This remained the case until 2009, when food retailer Loblaws entered discussions with Ryerson University on a joint venture to bring The Gardens back to life. Together in 2012, a Loblaws flagship store, an LCBO, and a Joe Fresh store were opened, along with Ryerson University’s new recreational facilities, the Mattamy Athletic Centre. A generous donation by Peter Gilgan, founder and CEO of Mattamy Homes, allowed Ryerson University to facilitate this project.
The Mattamy Athletic Centre at The Gardens will welcome an audience of 5,000 people on April 11th, 2013 for Mass Exodus 2013. The arena will transform into a runway to showcase the collections of Ryerson University’s graduating Fashion Design students. The graduating Fashion Communication students will exhibit their final capstone projects in the Coca-Cola Court at the Mattamy Athletic Centre.
It is a year of beginnings for Ryerson University and the School of Fashion to embrace the heritage of the Maple Leaf Gardens and contribute to its legacy.