What to know
- Supporters and critics online are pointing out that the Ontario Science Centre’s roof withstood Sunday’s massive snowstorm, despite provincial warnings that snow load could cause a potential collapse as early as winter 2024.
- Premier Doug Ford’s past claims about the building being structurally unsound are being challenged by Torontonians, advocates and Don Valley East MPP Adil Shamji, who say engineers, auditors and now the storm itself have contradicted those warnings.
- While debate continues online over whether damage could still emerge after melting, the province is moving ahead with plans for a new permanent Science Centre at Ontario Place, targeted to open as early as 2028.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed by Science Centre supporters that the building’s roof remains intact following Sunday’s significant snowfall.
Premier Doug Ford initially said the structural integrity of the Science Centre was “a mess.”
“That place is absolutely just a total mess, from top to bottom, to front to back, to every single building,” Ford said at a news conference in July 2024 after the centre was closed.
The initial report by the provincial government was released in June 2024, citing a report from engineers identifying multiple issues with the facility. They went on to say the building was at risk for the potential roof failure due to snow load, with the roof potentially collapsing as early as the end of winter 2024.
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Despite these claims, Torontonians online have been pointing out that the building has since remained undamaged by Sunday’s massive snowstorm that saw 60 cm fall in the GTA.
Sunday, January 25, 2026, 9:05 pm.
— Save OSC 🇨🇦 (@SaveOSC) January 26, 2026
Built for winter. ❄️
Built for Canada. 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/yKeILQaT3g
“After this storm, there’s no excuse. Get the damn building open, Doug!! It passed everything you said it wouldn’t,” said one X user.
“Hmmm roof still standing. I guess @fordnation got it wrong,” another added.
Another user on X suggested the premier would go to great lengths to prove his point.
“Ford will be on the roof overnight jumping up and down trying to get it to crack,” they said.
Even Don Valley East MPP Adil Shamji, a long time Science Centre advocate, added to the conversation.
In a release on Tuesday morning, Shamji said that Ford’s claims had been disproved time and time again.
“This claim was summarily rejected by engineers, architects and even the Auditor General,” it said in part. “Now this claim has been rejected by Mother Nature.”
Shamji went on to say how both Ford and Etobicoke North MPP Kinga Surma had failed the community with the decision to close the Science Centre.
“For years, the Science Centre had been a source of immense cultural, educational and economic value to the people of Don Valley East and Ontario,” he said. “Its closure has extinguished the hopes and dreams of far too many.”
Other users agreed with the statement. One person added, “Impact of closing the Ontario Science Centre: end of family outings, school field trips, school break programs, [high school] credit courses pivotal for teens choosing science careers, local employment…”
Some disagreed with Shamji’s words, telling him to not speak so quickly.
“Bro I would wait until the snow [is] gone before I start lipping off,” one X user said. “I agree with you but you don’t want to be proven wrong. It’s light snow. Wait until it melts and gets heavy.”
Another user asked if the MPP had checked around the building.
“Did you take pictures of the inside Sunday when you toured it?”
Now Toronto has reached out to the Office of the Premier but have yet to receive a response.
Temporary Science Centre pop-ups have opened up at both the CF Sherway Gardens as well as a waterfront KidSpark space at Harbourfront Centre.
These spots act as placeholders as work on a new permanent Science Centre at Ontario Place continues, with initial opening plans expected as early as 2028.
