Ontario Science Centre to open interim Toronto Harbourfront location by summer 2026
The province has announced that the Ontario Science Centre will open an interim home at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre by summer 2026, ensuring visitors continue to have access to science programming while construction of a new permanent facility at Ontario Place moves forward.
Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming Stan Cho said the move will safeguard jobs, boost tourism, and contribute to the vibrancy of Toronto’s waterfront.
“By establishing the Ontario Science Centre’s interim location at the Harbourfront Centre, 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 just steps away at Ontario Place,” Cho said on Wednesday.
The interim site will build on the success of KidSpark, a children’s learning space that opened at Harbourfront in December 2024. The expanded facility will cover approximately 86,000 square feet and include exhibition halls, classrooms, outdoor program areas, and shared spaces for community events.
The Science Centre’s temporary exhibit at CF Sherway Gardens will remain open until Jan. 4, 2026, before operations shift to Harbourfront.
The pop-up exhibit does not come close to meeting the need for science education, Liberal critic Adil Shamji said.
“More than a year and half later, we’re waiting for something real,” he said. “The one that they opened up at Sherway Gardens is a shadow of its former self. All of that leaves us with such little confidence that they will deliver this new location on time, to the same quality and calibre that the original Science Centre had.
“The location is still going to be difficult to access …and will add to the congestion that we’re already experiencing in downtown Toronto.”
NDP MPP and Infrastructure critic Jennifer French questioned what she called a “last-minute announcement,” especially since the government gave no indication it was planning to do this four weeks ago.
“I don’t trust the government to do this well,” said French. “Every parent who wants to take their kid to go and learn about the world – and then some – they should be expecting the best, and I don’t think that a fly-by-night last-minute announcement is what they deserve.”
Ontario Science Centre CEO Paul Kortenaar welcomed the announcement, noting the interim Toronto location will allow the institution to continue its mission of hands-on science education.
“Building on the success of our KidSpark experience, this expanded space at Harbourfront Centre will offer even more opportunities for visitors to enjoy hands-on science experiences as we build our future home at Ontario Place,” he said.
The announcement comes after months of uncertainty surrounding the Science Centre’s future. The provincial government abruptly closed the original Don Mills site in 2024, citing urgent roof repairs — a claim disputed by staff and critics.
While officials initially promised a temporary location by January 2026, Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma later said no decision had been made, raising concerns about a programming gap.
Meanwhile, the new Ontario Science Centre at Ontario Place has faced delays and rising costs. Originally slated to open in 2028, the project is now expected to be completed in 2029.
By Lucas Casaletto, CityNews
