The Ontario Science Centre has opened the doors of a temporary new home at Harbourfront Centre in Toronto, giving visitors somewhere to return to after the institution's original site was abruptly shuttered. The interim location is welcoming families and school groups with hands-on displays while a permanent replacement is built elsewhere in the city. For a science centre that has long been a fixture of childhood field trips, the reopening offers a measure of continuity during an uncertain period.
Much of the early attention has gone to the space-themed offerings on display. Visitors can see a piece of the actual moon, step into a modest planetarium and even try on spacesuits for themselves. The mix of artefacts and interactive elements has gone over well with the youngest guests, with children touring the exhibit happily giving it two thumbs up.
The opening also drew a notable guest in real-life astronaut Dave Williams, who offered words of encouragement to the young visitors. He urged any child who dreams of a future in aerospace not to hesitate, telling them to go forward and follow their passions because it is the only way to make a dream come alive. His message landed with an audience that had just spent the day surrounded by reminders of space exploration.
The reopening comes against the backdrop of a contentious closure. In 2024, the province abruptly closed the original Science Centre at its long-time home near Don Mills and Eglinton, citing an engineering report that found deficiencies with the building's roof. The decision drew considerable criticism from the surrounding community and others who valued the site. The interim space is a far more modest proposition by comparison, with a footprint that is significantly smaller, consisting of just a few rooms alongside an outdoor area known as the curiosity commons.
Several key questions about the project remain without clear answers. How much the interim centre is costing, and what will ultimately become of the old site, are matters that officials have not yet been able to fully address. The relevant minister said the final numbers on the interim location would be released as soon as they are finalised, acknowledging that those details are still being worked out.
On the fate of the former site, officials indicated that the matter is moving through Infrastructure Ontario and the Ministry of Infrastructure, and that no firm decision has been made. The site is expected to be put toward its best use, with public consultations to be held so that residents can weigh in on what should happen to the property in the years ahead.
Looking further down the road, a new and full Ontario Science Centre is being built at Ontario Place, to the west of the interim location, and is scheduled to open in 2029. Until then, the temporary home is intended to keep the centre's programming and exhibits within reach of the public, bridging the gap between the closure of the old building and the arrival of its long-term successor.