Toronto 
Ontario will establish a temporary home for the Ontario Science Centre at Harbourfront Centre, ensuring the institution continues to operate while work progresses on its future permanent site at Ontario Place.
CNW Group/Ontario Science Centre
The move follows the 2024 closure of the Science Centre’s Don Mills Road facility after an engineering report identified water damage affecting between 2 and 6 percent of the roofs and estimated repairs at a minimum of $22 million over two years.
Officials say the move will maintain public access to science programming and sustain the centre’s role as a major cultural institution.
Announcing the interim location, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming Stan Cho said the plan will allow families to retain access to science programming. “We’re helping Ontario families access world-class science programming even as we continue building a new, expanded and state-of-the-art Ontario Science Centre,” Cho stated.
The Science Centre’s KidSpark learning space opened at Harbourfront Centre in December 2024, and the interim facility will expand on that presence.
The temporary facility is planned to cover about 86,000 square feet and will include exhibition areas, workshop spaces, classrooms and outdoor programming zones.
According to Ontario Science Centre CEO Paul Kortenaar, the expanded site will support hands-on science learning for visitors, students and educators as the organization transitions toward its new permanent home.
Harbourfront Centre CEO Cathy Loblaw noted that the site’s longstanding focus on arts, culture and recreation makes it a suitable setting for the Science Centre’s activities. The waterfront campus sits along Queens Quay between Union Station and Ontario Place, a major entry point for residents, tourists and transit users.
The provincial government has highlighted the interim project as part of broader efforts to strengthen Toronto’s central waterfront. Recent cultural investments include $2.2 million for The Corleck, an Irish-Canadian arts venue.
The Science Centre will continue operating its temporary exhibition space at CF Sherway Gardens until January 4, 2026, when preparations will shift fully to the Harbourfront Centre location.
