Future of Ontario Place

Toronto’s Indigenous history is thousands of years old

The word “Toronto'' is derived from the Mohawk word “Tkaronto,” which means “the place in the water where the trees are standing, the place where the fish weirs are.” This land and water were inhabited by the Petun, the Huron Wendat, the Haundenosaunee (hoodt-en-oh-show-nee), the Anishnabeg (ah-nish-naw-bek), the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Chippewa peoples for thousands of years. Tkaronto is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

The shores of Lake Ontario and its watersheds are inextricably intertwined with Indigenous histories. According to First Story Toronto, the Humber River Valley (known by the Mississaugas of the Credit as “Cobechenonk”- now 5 km away from Ontario Place) “constituted a huge network of waterways that collectively facilitated a great deal of Indigenous movement and travel over a vast area spanning the interior of North America to the Atlantic Ocean and Northern Canada to the interior to the central United States.” It was part of the “Toronto Carrying Place,” a centuries-old 45 km trail critical to Indigenous trade. The Toronto Islands (adjacent to Ontario Place) are also a sacred and spiritual site for Indigenous peoples.

1701

“Dish With One Spoon” treaty was established between the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas and Haudenosaunee.

Toronto, and Ontario Place, are on “Dish With One Spoon” territory, representing a centuries-old Wampum agreement between the Anishinaabe, Mississaugas and Haudenosaunee that bound them to share the territory and protect the land. The Dish represents what is now southern Ontario (from the Great Lakes to Quebec and from Lake Simcoe into the U.S.). Subsequent Indigenous Nations and peoples, Europeans and all newcomers have been invited into this treaty in the spirit of peace, friendship, and respect.

1787

The Toronto Purchase

Since the last Ice Age, the waterfront of Lake Ontario has been vitally important to various peoples including the Wendat, the Haudenosuanee, the Anishinabeg and the Mississaugas of the Credit. This ends abruptly in 1787, when the British colonial government "purchases" 250,000 acres of land on the north shore of Lake Ontario from the Mississaugas for $60. This becomes the site of York, the capital of Upper Canada.
Taiaiakon Haudensonaunee Toronto territory
Claim Commission Mississauags Toronto Purchase, 2003
Taiaiakon Files Archeological Master Plan

The Toronto Purchase is established fraudulently

There is a long and troubling history of unfulfilled legal obligations by the Government of Canada towards Indigenous peoples, including the Toronto Purchase. The history of the Toronto Purchase begins in 1787 with a fraudulent deed to purchase the land now known as Toronto from three Chiefs in the area for ten shillings ($60 in 2010). In 1986, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation made a claim which stated that the 1787-1805 Toronto Purchase was fraudulent, and that the Crown has since failed its two major duties: (1) “To ensure the River Credit Mississaugas were fully informed as to their rights and the facts regarding any particular transaction”, and (2) To ensure the Crown paid a reasonable price for surrendered land.” It was settled for $145 million in 2010. You can learn more here.

1912

Reshaping the Waterfront

In 1912, the newly-formed Toronto Harbour Commission creates a plan to increase Toronto’s industrial potential by infilling large portions of its waterfront. The THC later influenced the development of fairgrounds at Exhibition Place, Toronto Island Airport (1937) and the Gardiner Expressway (1958).

1960

Radical Utopian architecture arrives in Ontario

The influence of radical Utopian architectural works by Archigram, Superstudio, and Yona Friedman can be seen in Ontario Place’s use of megastructures, scaffolds to achieve programmatic flexibility, and structural expression.

1967

Canada's Centennial

The international success of Montreal's Expo ‘67 proved that cutting-edge architecture and design could carve out an identity for a region and bring it to world-wide attention. Ontario Place is designed to do the same for Ontario.

1968

The Bold Concept and Harbour City

In 1968 the Toronto Harbour Commission develops a masterplan to transform the waterfront from its existing industrial uses into a recreational and residential area. Ontario Place is the only built portion of the THC's Bold Concept Plan. Concerns about the lack of public consultation, increased traffic and environmental consequences of infilling the lake stop further action.

1971

Ontario Place opens to the public

Showcasing the first permanent IMAX theatre in the world (Cinesphere), exhibitions housed in the Pods, and innovative restaurant concepts, Ontario Place is heralded as a recreational complex with a futuristic outlook. Zeidler and Hough’s use of artificial islands brings the lake inland, reinventing the city’s relationship to its waterfront.

1972

McMillan designs a ground-breaking children’s playscape

Designer Eric McMillan is invited to create a space for children at Ontario Place. The Children’s Village consists of “punching bag forests'', climbing structures, and other games which encourage kids to use their imagination. Due to its success, a water play area is introduced the following year. McMillan is now cited as “the father of soft play.”
McMillan, Eric_Shared scan.pdf

1975

Buffy Sainte Marie performs at the Ontario Place Forum

Buffy Saint-Marie gives a concert at the Ontario Place Forum dedicated to Indigenous peoples. It was aired publicly on Ontario Educational Communications Authority's Channel 19 later that year.

1977

Goh Ohn Bell celebrates Japanese Canadians

Renowned architect Raymond Moriyama designs the Goh Ohn Bell shelter to celebrate the centennial of Japanese immigrants settling in Canada. The Goh Ohn Bell shelter likely represents the last addition to Ontario Place consistent with Zeidler and Hough’s vision for the site.

1980

Ontario North Now

In 1980, eight interconnected silos are introduced to the west island to house an exhibition on Northern Ontario. Titled “Ontario North Now”, the exhibition includes a simulation of the northern lights as well as various displays of industrial pursuits in the north. The silos later became known as a venue for notable Indigenous artists including Norval Morrisseau and Conrad Bobiwash.

1984

Attempts to monetize Ontario Place with theme park programming

In response to decreasing revenues, the Province plans to convert portions of Ontario Place into a theme-park. The plans are only partially realized, leaving relics such as the defunct Wilderness Adventure ride on the west island.

1987

Initiative to connect Ontario Place to the city

Ontario Place Chair Patricia Starr proposes improved transit connections and joint programming with Exhibition Place. These changes remained largely unimplemented.

1989

Ontario Place is reimagined for Expo 2000

Toronto’s 2000 Expo bid includes proposals to revitalize waterfront sites and combine the Ontario Place site with Exhibition Place. The City loses its bid by a single vote.

1992

Ontario Place is redefined as a water amusement park

Following a series of economic recessions in the 1980’s and early 90’s, funding is pulled from Ontario North Now. Water rides and pay-as-you-go attractions were added to the site.

1994

Ontario Place’s open-air theatre, “the Forum” is destroyed

The Ontario Place Forum is replaced with the higher-capacity Molson Amphitheatre to increase revenues. Protests by a group called “Friends of the Forum” precede the demolition, with Eberhard Zeidler, Michael Hough, Jane Jacobs, and other notable figures calling for the Province to reverse its decision. The Forum’s removal included the destruction of Michael Hough’s iconic landscape which featured a sloped seating area, four-hundred mature trees, and key circulation routes connecting the east and central islands.

1995

Several private development schemes are proposed, but do not materialize

Provincial Culture Minister Marilyn Mushinski publicly “muses” about selling two of the provincial government's public assets - Ontario Place and the Ontario Science Centre- to private interests. In the following year, private corporations propose a Disney-like amusement park, multi-use sports arena, and residential town centre. Although these proposals remain unrealized, the concept of private development has persisted.

2002

The Children’s Village is demolished

Eric McMillan’s Children’s Village was an internationally-renowned design for a children’s play area. It was slowly demolished to make way for miniature midway rides to generate more profit. McMillan was never consulted.

2006

Arts and culture programming at Ontario Place proves popular

The Chinese Lantern Festival at Ontario Place ran for three years as the biggest lantern festival outside of China. Due to its success, Ontario Place built heritage square to accommodate additional multicultural programming. Photo credit: Loozrboy on Flickr

2010

Cinesphere renovation successfully activates the site

Following a call for public input from the provincial government the Cinesphere underwent its first significant renovation. This investment was instrumental in reactivating the Cinesphere as a venue for arts and culture programming. The same revitalization plan includes an expansion of the waterpark, as well as the addition of an eco-learning centre and Echo Beach.

2012

Ontario Place closes

Despite positive momentum provided by the recent Cinesphere renovation the provincial government decides to close the site. Tourism Minister Michael Chan says in a statement “Ontario Place has been a drain on the government treasury for many years...it’s no longer sustainable.”

John Tory’s Ontario Place report is released

Prior to his election as Toronto Mayor, John Tory publishes a series of recommendations which maintain most of the site as a public park, and propose a “culture, discovery and innovation hub” to generate revenue. Although the plan is widely accepted and endorsed by the Province, it receives backlash for suggesting that 10-15% of the site should be set aside for residential development. Critics believe it would create “a private space for millionaires.”

2014

Province recognizes Ontario Place as a “Heritage Place”

The Government of Ontario adds Ontario Place to its list of provincial cultural heritage sites. After the province’s call for development proposals in 2019 the listing disappears. An archived version can be found here.

2016

In/Future transforms Ontario Place into public art festival

Curatorial duo Art Spin hosts “a transformative art experience” at Ontario Place. Between September 15 - 25, a diverse coalition of over fifty local and international artists offered outdoor installations, performances, and public workshops. Learn more about Art Spin in this video, or visit the in/future website.

2017

Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail connect Ontario Place ot the city’s waterfront

Following the recommendations outlined by John Tory, 7.5 acres of parking lot along Ontario Place’s eastern edge are developed into a park and active transportation route. Trillium Park and the Willian G. Davis Trail successfully reconnect Ontario Place to adjacent waterfront sites and provide high-quality park space on the waterfront.

The Trillium Park Moccasin Identifier Project is launched

In partnership with the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, Carolyn King developed the Moccasin Identifier Project at Trillium Park, with the objective “to advance treaty and Indigenous awareness by covering Canada in moccasins.” Part public art initiative and part education curriculum, the project uses a series of stencils of traditional moccasins from various Indigenous communities to raise awareness of the Indigeneity of the land. Philip Cote, a renowned artist from Moose Deer Point First Nation, provided studies of the moccasins and carved large Anishinaabe moccasin into a granite wall which marks the entrance into Trillium Park.

2018

An international development call with no public consultation

Less than a year after Doug Ford is elected Premier, the Province announces that the Ontario Place Corporation is being disbanded and opens an international call for development proposals. There is no public consultation or full disclosure of the schemes under consideration. The site’s public nature as well as its architectural, landscape, and cultural heritage assets are not protected by the development guidelines.

In response to the Province’s actions, the City of Toronto places Ontario Place on its heritage registry. A public meeting at City Hall draws crowds of community groups and members of the public concerned that they will permanently lose access to the site, or that its built heritage may be destroyed.

2019

Public Outcry Follows Provincial Government Announcement

In response to the government's unilateral announcement, a range of community groups organize protests and events. Grassroots group Ontario Place for All launches with a public meeting attended by over 200 people. The Toronto Society of Architects and Architectural Conservancy Ontario organize events including design charettes, panel discussions and produce films to draw attention to the issue.

Wigwam Chi-Chemung docks at Ontario Place Marina

The Wigwam Chi-Chemung (translation: Big House Canoe) art installation and interpretive learning centre hosted on a 40 ft pontoon houseboat, which was docked at the Ontario Place Marina between June and October 2019. The boat was painted by muralist Philip Cote. Wigwam Chi-Chemung held public hours, “offering a place for people to engage with, ask question of, and learn from the perspectives of Indigenous elders.”

2020

Ontario Place added to the World Monuments Watch

The 2020 World Monuments Watch recognizes Ontario Place alongside 24 heritage sites around the globe “in need of timely or urgent action.” In response to the Province of Ontario’s international call for development proposals, the WMF listing demands “an end to top-down decision-making and the embrace of heritage to encourage community dialogue.”