We have been incredibly touched by the outpouring of love and support that we have received for the Ontario Science Centre since we closed our doors at 770 Don Mills Road on June 21, 2024 – much sooner than we anticipated.
It has been an emotional time for all of us. For almost 55 years, this beloved building has been a dynamic place of discovery. Within these walls, so many young minds have asked questions -- transformed curiosity into scientific exploration and ignited a lifelong passion for understanding our world. We appreciate the heartfelt messages – from adorable photos and videos to shared stories and favourite memories of past visits. We are grateful to have played a role in the lives of so many, from treasured visits with family to amazing school field trips.
Today, our mission to inspire a love of science, technology and innovation remains the same – we are committed to continuing to spark curiosity and passion for science for generations to come. If you grew up in Ontario, you likely grew up experiencing the Ontario Science Centre – and this will remain true in the future.
We can no longer do that safely or effectively in this building due to failing infrastructure including critical roof issues, building systems and an inaccessible pedestrian bridge. As a result, our Board of Trustees voted to close the building, based on a recommendation from the Ministry of Infrastructure and the CEO of the Science Centre. Our visitors are families, children, teachers and students. The health and safety of our employees and visitors is always our top priority.
Together, with our partners at Infrastructure Ontario, we look forward to announcing the site of our interim location as soon as possible. While we are delivering our science camp programs in an alternate space this summer, we are exploring programming opportunities for that new location and beyond, such as mobile, virtual and pop-up experiences. We will also continue to share updates on the work to design and build the Science Centre’s new home at Ontario Place.
Our future is bright, and we are excited for what lies ahead. The provincial government’s investment in the future of the Science Centre is unprecedented – and we are committed to providing incredible experiences in new and innovative ways for the people of Ontario. We are thankful to our members, donors, partners, sponsors and supporters as we embrace the future together.
We can’t wait to share our plans with you.
John Carmichael, Board Chair of the Ontario Science Centre
Paul Kortenaar, CEO of the Ontario Science Centre