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7mo ago

Ontario Confirms Interim Science Centre at Harbourfront for Summer 2026

The plan preserves public access to science exhibits during the wait for a new Ontario Place facility now expected in 2029.

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People arrive at a pop-up Ontario Science Centre located in Sherway Gardens mall in Toronto, Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Overview

  • The interim site at Harbourfront Centre will expand the existing KidSpark footprint to about 86,000 square feet with exhibition space, classrooms and outdoor program areas.
  • The Sherway Gardens pop-up will stay open until Jan. 4, 2026, after which staff and programming will shift to the waterfront location.
  • Officials say the interim move will protect jobs and bolster tourism while the permanent Science Centre is constructed at Ontario Place.
  • The Don Mills facility was shut in June 2024 following warnings of potential roof panel failure, a rationale disputed by staff and political critics.
  • The Ontario Place project is now targeted for 2029, with the auditor general pegging costs near $1.4 billion and noting Therme-related parking obligations as an influence on relocation.