7/29/2019 Giorgio Mammoliti's Panda-riffic Press Release

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FORIMMEDIATERELEASE

TOALLMEDIAMARCH25th,2013

PandaPerseverancePaidOff,Panda-manCouncillorMammolitisays

3TripstoChinaSealedDeal

Itcouldntbedone.CouncillorGiorgioMammoliti,asChairoftheTorontoZoo,wastoldby

formerMayorsMelLastmanandDavidMilleraswellasbyPrimeMinistersChretienand

Martin,whorefusedtosignletterstotheChinesegovernmentassertingTorontoZoointerestin

hostingthefurrydiplomats.Manywereactivelydiscouraging.Tobehonest,MayorFordhas

alsosaidthesamediscouragingthings,Mammolitireveals.

TheyallbasicallysaidIwaswastingmytime,Mammoliticontinues.SoIwentouttoChinaasChairoftheboardinthe2001,Iheadedupaneconomicdevelopmentdelegationthenand

that'swhenwenegotiatedwiththeChongqingZooofficials(Toronto'ssisterZoo)forthefirst

timetoaddgiantpanda'stothelistofanimalswewouldworktowardinexchangesprogramme

withtheChongqingZooandtheBeijinggovernment.Hepauses,clearlyexcited.Wehavere-

affirmedthatdealwithmeasanofficialrepresentativefortheZooandCityofTorontotwice

sincethenwithmyselfheadingupthedelegationtrips.

InitiallyTookMediaHitsforEfforts

OnalloccasionswhenvisitingChina,in2001,2005,2008,Itookahitinthemediaandwith

mycolleaguescallingitajunketwithnothingthatwillcomeoutofit.everyonewas

initiallyskeptical.

Where:FedExWorldServiceCentre6895BramaleaRd.Mississauga

When:9:30AMforinvitedguestsMonday,March25,2013

Now,IamgoingtobejoinedbyzooofficialsandMrs.HarperattheairportasFedexinvitedus

tojointhemonthearrival.Fedexistheofficialsponsortogetthemhere.Finallytheyarehere.

Afterbearhugs,ImightevenhelpthePandaswiththeirluggage,Mammolitismiles.

Formoreinformationpleasecontact(416)395-6401CouncillorGiorgioMammoliti

7/29/2019 Giorgio Mammoliti's Panda-riffic Press Release

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CouncillorMammoliti&PandaatChongqingZoo,China

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