Toronto residents and community members are coming together to save the Ontario Science Centre (OSC) from permanently closing, following a sudden announcement of its immediate shutdown on Friday.
The unexpected decision came after an engineering report from Rimkus Consulting Group, commissioned by the province, warned of potential roof collapse at the Centre due to “snow load” during winter, as per a statement released by the Ontario government.
Rather than undertaking costly repairs, the province opted to indefinitely close the location while previously scheduled private events will be permitted to occur over the weekend.
In 2023, the Ford government had announced that the popular landmark located in east Toronto was to be moved to the Ontario Place site to save costs.
“It was my hope that we could keep the building alive until the new science centre was built. But unfortunately, we have to take the warning signs of engineers very seriously. This is a health and safety matter,” said Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma in a press conference on Monday morning.
In response to the closure, community efforts, led by the grassroots organization Save Ontario’s Science Centre (Save OSC), have surged. The group organized a rally on Sunday, June 23, urging the government to reconsider its decision and is actively gathering signatures in opposition to the move.
MPP Toronto Centre and Official Opposition Critic for the Attorney General Kristyn Wong-Tam also expressed her frustration “by Ford’s dubious plan to relocate the Ontario Science Centre he so grossly neglected.” She is urging the public to sign her letter opposing the move.
Former Vice President of Shopify, Adam McNamara, expressed support on Saturday via Twitter, urging the government to keep the centre open for children this summer.
“I’ll personally fund the 2024 panel remediation recommended by your engineers,” McNamara said, citing the report’s confirmation that specific buildings in the centre are safe for use until October 31, 2024.
“If lack of money for repairs is truly the only thing keeping OSC closed this summer, my friends and I are happy to help,” he added.
One grandmother even responded to his tweet saying, “I can see why Adam’s the “Angel Investor”! This is such an admirable gesture! I’ll be taking my grandkids to the Science Centre once it reopens!”
Meanwhile, numerous others have commented on his post, stating they will closely watch whether the Ford government accepts or rejects McNamara’s offer. This decision could potentially reveal any underlying concerns.
Others in the community have joined his efforts with one X user saying, “I’d donate to a crowdfunding for this. Kids deserve their science center..”
As people reminisce about their visits to the Ontario Science Centre, its lasting impact on their lives continues to be significant and irreplaceable.
“For more than five decades, the Ontario Science Centre has been a beloved landmark and an integral part of our community and our province. Our building itself has been part of the experience, and a cherished space for generations of visitors, sparking wonder and curiosity about science and the world around us, every day,” Paul Kortenaar, CEO of Ontario Science Centre said in a statement.
“The memories created within these walls are truly special – and are the foundation on which we will build our future,” Kortenaar added.
