Portlands Energy Centre Opens Its Doors With Community Displays

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - May 22, 2014) -

Editors Note: A photo for this release is available on the Canadian Press picture wire via Marketwired.

On Saturday May 24, 2014, the Portlands Energy Centre (PEC) will open its doors to the public for its fifth Doors Open Toronto, presented by Great Gulf. This year, visitors can learn about energy and the environment from PEC, as well as several community groups, artists and other guest exhibitors hosted at the site.

Members of the public can take a guided tour of the natural gas plant to see firsthand how it produces clean, safe and efficient energy. They can even take and tweet photos/video of their experience or maybe a rarely seen bird frequenting the site. Visitors can also discover why PEC keeps a closely managed bee aviary on-site, how it's revitalizing the area with a Carolinian ecosystem and other steps it's taking to improve its ecological footprint.

Through guest exhibitors, visitors can learn how electricity reaches our homes, explore the Port Lands through art, become a 'green citizen,' or sample home-grown honey, among other activities.

PEC's doors will be open from 10 am to 5 pm, with last admittance at 4 pm. Guided plant tours use specialized headsets with audio commentary and run approximately every 20 minutes.

Guest exhibitors include:

• The Toronto Urban Beekeepers Association with PEC's expert beekeeper Brian Hamlin.
• Earth Rangers - The Kid's Conservation Organization
• EcoMetrix Incorporated - environmental solutions firm
• Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO)
• Central Tree Care - PEC's arborist
• Office of Eco-Seneca Initiatives (Seneca College)
• Lynn Leonard, photographer and mixed media artist
• The Port Lands Sensory Walk with artist Lisa Binnie
• SENES Consultants Limited (ARCADIS) environmental specialty services company

Over the past four years, more than 2,400 participants have visited the PEC during Doors Open Toronto.

The PEC is located at 470 Unwin Avenue, just east of Toronto's downtown core and can be accessed via Leslie or Cherry streets. Please note that children under the age of 10 years are not permitted into the plant due to lack of appropriate safety protective gear in child sizes and general safety concerns.

Follow us on Twitter @portlandsenergy for #DOT14 updates. For more information, visit www.portlandsenergycentre.com.

About the Portlands Energy Centre:

Portlands Energy Centre is a natural gas fired power plant that provides safe, clean, efficient, and reliable energy to the City of Toronto and Ontario.

Notable facts to share (140 characters or less):

• Tour the @portlandsenergy on May 24 at Doors Open Toronto. #DOT14 #natgas http://bit.ly/QC8V9N
• Take and tweet rare photos or video of the Portlands Energy Centre on May 24 at #DOT14 http://bit.ly/QC8V9N
• Get the buzz on bees and taste homegrown honey @portlandsenergy on May 24. http://bit.ly/QC8V9N
• Look way up at a rare raven's nest in Toronto at @portlandsenergy on May 24. http://bit.ly/QC8V9N