Eb Zeidler Architect, Michael Hough Landscape Architect, Eric McMillan Architect, Children’s Village

National Trust for Canada Top 10 Endangered Places, 2012

National Trust for Canada Prix du XXe siècle, 2017

January 2018: The Provincial government deletes the Ontario Place Statement of Cultural Heritage Value and replaces it with Creating a new world-class destination at the Ontario Place site. The new guidelines dictate that the site’s land will not be sold but will be available for long-term lease. Other restrictions include no residential development and at least 7.5 acres of the site´s total 155 acres to be maintained as park land. Proposals may incorporate all or part of Trillium Park (designed by LANDinc, completed 2017, winner Architizer A+ Award in Public Landscape Design 2018) provided an equal area of park is created elsewhere on the site. Otherwise land, water, islands, pods, Cinesphere are all available for redevelopment. The markedly non-Zeidler Budweiser Stage that replaced the much-loved Forum in 1995 is the only structure not available for re-development. Negative reaction to the Provincial Government’s “new vision”: Torrential.

May 8, 2019: Ontario Place: Building on Our Legacy hosted by ACO Toronto and the Toronto Society of Architects, Carolyn King former elected Chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit insists that access to Lake Ontario must be guaranteed to all Ontarians - as it is at Trillium Park that was built in consultation with First Nations. Planner Ken Greenberg re-iterates the importance of Ontario place as a waterfront park that must not be diminished in any way. Construction of a version of Kingston’s Gord Edgar Downie Pier where Toronto’s lake water is famously clean is a well-received suggestion.

Michael McClelland of ERA Architects recalls Harbour City designed for a population of 60,000 by Eb Zeidler in 1970. Much admired by Jane Jacobs it would have been built on reclaimed land and artificial islands between Ontario Place and Hanlan’s Point. McClelland insists that revitalization of Ontario Place cannot happen without revitalization of Exhibition Place. Nor can there be revitalization without improved access between the two Places and the City with improved transit to both - as recognized by Exhibition Place management in its evolving proposals for Next Place – Exhibition Place.

Improved transit? Ontario Line that will connect Ontario Place/Exhibition Place through downtown with Thorncliffe Park, Flemingdon Park and the Ontario Science Centre is scheduled to open in 2030.

Architect George Baird proposes a request for proposals for reuse of the pods that might include a museum of the city or of Toronto’s First Nations or live-work spaces that would support themselves as well as other businesses and entertainments year-round. Otherwise, how justify the estimated $8.3b cost of the Ontario Line?

ACO and TSA sponsors a video that has more than 60,000 hits in social media. There are articles in the press and guided walks, ACO past Chair Leslie Thompson meets with then Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Michael Tibollo to request that any proposed Ontario Place plans conserve the features recognized in the now deleted Statement of Cultural Heritage Value.

November 2019: Chair of ACO Ontario Place Sub-Committee, Bill Greaves successfully promotes inclusion of Ontario Place on the World Monuments Fund 2020 Watch List. Dec 10, 2019: Ontario Association of Architects, Ontario Architecture Day: Chris Glover MPP (NDP Fort York-Spadina) nominates Ontario Place as his favourite building in his riding. It is then selected by OAA as one of its eight QPP Picks 2019.

ACO applies to the Getty Foundation's Keeping it Modern program for $200,000 US to support development of a Conservation Management Plan for Ontario Place. The application is shortlisted.

October 2020-January 2021: as part of its collaboration with The Future of Ontario Place Project, ACO NextGen makes Ontario Place the focus of its ninth annual Design Charrette. In combination with a Call for Counterproposals, the charrette will, for the first time in its history be a country-wide, virtual event, spanning months rather than a single day.

December 17, 2020: BREAKTHROUGH! Provincial Government declares that redeveloping Ontario Place is “central to the recovery of heritage, culture, recreation and tourism for all Ontarians post pandemic — both as a tourism destination but also as a display of our strong cultural identity in Ontario.” Cinesphere, pods, Trillium Park and the William G. Davis Trail will remain.

The Future of Ontario Place Project

See Image #3: Ontario Place as it will look if proposals by Therme Group, Live Nation and Eco Reo proceed.

Cinesphere and pods that were originally available for demolition, with Trillium Park, will remain. (Future use of pods to be determined. Science related activities in collaboration with the Ontario Science Centre proposed.)

William G. Davis Trail will be extended around the perimeter.