Ontario’s government has officially broken ground on a new Ontario Science Centre at Ontario Place, describing the project as a major investment in tourism, education and waterfront revitalization.
The Ford government says the new 400 thousand square foot facility is expected to open in 2029 and will include expanded exhibit space, science programming, upgraded theatre facilities and renovated pods integrated into the Ontario Place site.
Premier Doug Ford said the new Science Centre will become a landmark destination attracting millions of visitors annually while supporting more than one thousand jobs during construction and tourism operations.
The project forms part of the province’s broader Ontario Place redevelopment plan, which also includes public trails, beaches, event spaces and an updated amphitheatre. Provincial officials say the larger redevelopment is expected to generate thousands of jobs and add hundreds of millions of dollars to Ontario’s economy during construction.
However, opposition parties and critics continue raising concerns about the closure of the original Ontario Science Centre building and the overall redevelopment process.
Ontario NDP and Liberal critics have argued the government moved too quickly to shut down the Don Mills location last year while questions remain about long term costs, infrastructure spending and the privatization of parts of Ontario Place.
Some urban planning advocates and community groups have also criticized the redevelopment for reducing public waterfront access and prioritizing large scale commercial projects over preservation of the original site.
The province maintains the original Science Centre building required significant repairs and says the new waterfront facility will provide expanded programming and improved transit access through the future Ontario Line.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
