BREAKING: Ontario Science Centre abruptly closing due to structural issues

The Ontario Science Centre is abruptly closing at the end of the day today, after engineers found structural issues with the roof.
The news from provincial infrastructure officials comes amid plans from the government to move the science centre from its current home in east Toronto to a new location at Ontario Place on the city's waterfront, but that isn't slated to be open until 2028.
A business case released last year by the government found that the current building is facing $369 million in deferred and critical maintenance needs over the next 20 years, and the auditor general has said a lack of government funding is a key cause.
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[@Anonymous_Whisper]

Sounds very shady

[@user-vr8dw2ik8k]

I smell corruption

[@MasterofPlay7]

lmao more of your money going into somebody's pocket

[@ClarkGreaseball]

👃🤔 I smell pizza 🍕 Oh no wait, you're right I smell corruption too. The pizza smell was covering it up. 😁

[@PhilSophia-ox7ep]

​@@MasterofPlay7 You're right. Teaching kids science isn't in the interest of society. Instead, we should have them believing that the 6000 year old earth is flat, that vaccines are bioweapons, and that all the wildfires are due to arson rather than climate change.

[@heykerryann]

I can smell it all the way in Nova Scotia

[@gdi9320]

You got it

[@Greg-cl7tl]

They wanted to move it to Ontario Place, had push back from the public, now suddenly there is a roof problem. What a convenient coincidence....🤑

[@koleclement9899]

Obviously bs they just wanna build more condos no one can afford😂

[@dart105-ng1ns]

Its a money grab

[@anneatcheson9799]

CHECK THE SECURITY CAMERAS FOR DOUG FORD MAFIA BUDDIES

[@openairmarket6473]

Exactly what I was saying.. something is Fishy….his Brother lied so maybe he is a master of deception too😂😂

[@robertmontgomery110]

SOMETHING SMELLS ALL THE WAY TO CITY HALL

[@Gee-xx3oi]

Breaking News: Ford has been after this piece of real estate for years!

[@dorisevans3536]

EVIL FORD...ENJOY YOUR SPA....ON THE TAX PAYERS BACK

[@anneatcheson9799]

DeGasperis/TACC owns land surrounding Ont. Science Centre...

[@parkerbohnn]

@@anneatcheson9799 My father was a good friend of Fred. Fred owned all the land in Ontario.

[@parkerbohnn]

@@anneatcheson9799 Fred went to Jarvis Collegiate and would have been the richest person in Canada if he was still alive today.

[@anneatcheson9799]

@@parkerbohnn Too bad a millionaire fake premier has f'd it all up

[@racializedkanadian]

NO. It's closing BECAUSE OF NEGLECT. (or could it be ...... real estate GRIFT)

[@nicholashylton6857]

This stinks of Ford accelerating the way to the demolition of the OSC. 😡 But on the "bright side", obscenely rich condo owners will get a great view of some of the best parkland in the city.

[@Lizzbird_]

Yes blame everything on the rich 🙄

[@superphotog]

@@Lizzbird_ - _"Yes blame everything on the rich "_ Since it is true in this case, what is your problem? Actually when it comes to rich liberals/neo cons (uniparty in the U.S.) versus average working joes/tradesmen it is true. TruDOLF's and Jackmeat's policies are very engaged in providing desirable housing locations for the rich initiatives. It is how he, TURDeau, increased his net worth tenfold in eight years from $9 million to over $100 million.

[@melrobertson2743]

​@@Lizzbird_I blame corrupt developers

[@SMS-gi3mu]

@@Lizzbird_ Last I heard ford was a multi-millionaire 🙄🙄🙄

[@definitelynotak4228]

they been wanting to move the science center to ontario place for a long time but nobody has been wanting it. this is simply how they decided to make it seem like "oh well we might as well"

[@cindycreateforlife]

If it costs 40 MILLION dollars to fix a roof, tear it down and build 10 new Science Centres! That is ridiculous, it doesn’t cost 40 million to build an apartment building for heaven’s sake! Let the process be extremely transparent, reveal the problem, the plans to repair, the contractors bids and scope of work! The taxpayers aren’t stupid!

[@Ratboy2004]

Um. Ya. They elected and reelected Ford.

[@user-fh7co8kw6o]

Yes they’re not stupid but helpless

[@ButUrWrongTho]

This thread demonstrates how easy it is to turn the general public against "broken government" features. Conservatives across Ontario will rejoice at the "cost cutting measure" when Ford sells this property off to private developers to build right at a major station of the new taxpayer created transport system. $20 says whoever ends up owning this spot will be a property developer Ford just so happens to know and they'll sell it for the cost appraised at before the station was built beside it. We see this over and over and over and over again with corrupt politicians. Decades defunding health care and then "hey, I bet private healthcare could do a better job!"; then decades defunding education and suddenly "hey, I bet private education could do a better job!", and all of the entities connected to the other end of the government -> private sector pipeline just so happening to be friends of the very politicians who passed the defundings.

[@Happi-HD]

it's a gigantic roof, not entirely crazy. what is crazier is all the other stuff that needs to be replaced but none of it is urgent, especially the roof.

[@anneatcheson9799]

That's the problem,. it won't cost $40 million You're being lied to - AGAIN by DOUG FORD

[@renskeconnell8038]

A ruse by Ford and his cronies...

[@deanorr5378]

Unbelievable that the Ontario Line subway was designed to go right to the Science Centre, which is now conveniently being shut down, and likely to be sold off to property developers unless we push back. The provincial government is barely able to cover its tracks and has no shame. How can they not be accountable to the people? Selling off one good thing after another to make somebody a buck?

[@Ratboy2004]

And he'll be reelected again saying the other parties are corrupt.

[@richardperkins2781]

That’s why the Ford corruption cabinet wants it shutdown: so his developer grifters can put up the huge mansions on that land

[@tmlcreativeproductions5813]

how freaking convenient for the Ford government ... somehow I feel a con coming on

[@LizA0488]

It is on prime real estate because of the ravine. This is a complete scam!

[@patrickwong4824]

Can you smell the Bullshit?

[@ClarkGreaseball]

👃🐂💩😁I do! Ido!✋

[@melrobertson2743]

All the way from here in Kitchener

[@kiricappuchin]

Very strongly!!! It's putrid!!!

[@berrex5152]

smells almost worse than a punjabb

[@ergosteur]

Imagine maintaining our public infrastructure rather than just leaving it to rot… not in Ontario unless it’s highways

[@GrantPearson]

We need to vote out Douche Ford.

[@vonfaustien3957]

Eh at least you've got water the third largest city in the country in the richest per capita province can't even manage that much.

[@BadmanBadman-rs2iy]

@@vonfaustien3957shooting up 🆙 up the ass (I lost my own brother n cousin last year so don’t even try) Home invasions can’t even rent a 1 bedroom unless your Indian and if your lucky a shitty apt for 1700-1800 utility not included Worse traffic in the country… So gas prices don’t help us when we are stuck 40 mins On a 15KM trip..

[@BadmanBadman-rs2iy]

@@vonfaustien3957come live in Toronto it’s horrible… I thank god My Spouse works a good job unless we’d wouldn’t be able to live comfortably The amount of money we spend On Toll fees etc Here Adds up If you make 120k Here your lucky to have 6k saved at the end of year from the state this city and bigger surroundings citys

[@BadmanBadman-rs2iy]

@@vonfaustien3957remember bacause we make a lot of money doesn’t mean the cost of living matches In Toronto the cost of living is more then 60 percent of your wages

[@stayclassyjay]

i smell future condo site

[@elterrifico9522]

Let’s hope

[@SnowTiger45]

FORD is a GOOF. It's time to vote him OUT ! It's bad enough the Science Centre hasn't been well-maintained (likely due to a lack of provincial funding) but the fact that they are closing it without a viable alternative (yet) is really nonsensical. I know there are plans for it to be situated at Ontario Place but that facility it no where near ready.

[@Anna-gj1ts]

Fords ok. Trudeaus bankrupting canada.

[@kevinparkernde]

With all the taxes we pay. How is it that these civil owned and funded structures fall into such disrepair ? Who are those paid negligent employees in charge ?🤔

[@user-qb3hl9lp6k]

Money is scarce, Trudeau is paying to keep our far flung neighbors safe and we are paying his social outings to Switzerland and God knows where else to do God knows what and bet your sorry butt he is not living in a bed and breakfast with his entourage of clingons. Who will shine his shoes or hold the mirror at an angle while it makes the hair look curly.

[@ronjenkins4257]

Smells like bs to justify the move to Ontario Place. The Science Centre is a concrete bunker . . . just fix the roof and get on with it.

[@nadinepapazian]

This must be stopped

[@sparkysmom544]

So what building inspector got paid off by Dougie and his gang?

[@nutbutterlover1040]

Sounds based to me

[@tokyogamer5825]

Okay, so we all know this is developer corruption, but besides the obvious, what will this mean for the future of Science Centre Station?

[@openairmarket6473]

Bro they’ll rename the line and the station… it’s too much and the signs are already installed at OSC Station…it jus sucks

[@michaelgates4917]

B.s they just wanna sell that land too rich developers

[@wangonguy62]

Seems worth the cost of fixing but what do I know? Corruption at it's finest. We're screwed no matter what side were on.

[@kidmohair8151]

suspicion. DoFo has been trying to sell this prime piece of real estate to his "wedding guests" for some time now...

[@melaniebell8115]

The public's trust is broken. It doesn't matter if the roof or the engineer's evaluation is sound. We cannot have a premier with a history of corruption, lies, and family ties in construction/land development. We'll all miss the science centre, having its demise on your hands isn't a good look.

[@wilfredbruce5327]

Ford and his cronies finding another plum to pick. Kind of like certain greenbelt land?

[@rafalklepinski7372]

So many fun memories there since the 80s. What a shame our infrastructure is falling apart while bureaucrats take all the money.. what a shame. Soon Costco will be the only place to take your kid on the weekend. Wonder if they vigorously brought up the maintenance budget every year to match inflation like they do their own salaries.

[@jasonseymour-rf6zz]

Who the hell outside of Ford wants the science center at Ontario place. Traffic is bad enough

[@cheryl4549]

Take the TTC. It is certainly alot easier for people to get to, especially if you do not own a vehicle. I have so many memories of my children at Ontario Place.

[@koleclement9899]

@@cheryl4549not everyone lives in the city., 😂 cars are a luxury now.

[@rubmybelly1316]

​@@cheryl4549you can take the ttc & the car to the current science centre location.

[@EbNorth]

All the people that will profit from it. They want it moved

[@cheryl4549]

@@koleclement9899 I do not live in the City. I first need to take a Go Train and then TTC.

[@monicalogtenberg9403]

When’s the next provincial election

[@KasumiRieko]

Suurrreeee.... "Uh oh, something happened during fixing it and it all fell down... guess we better replace it with condos.."

[@MuzikBenny]

Umm what about us season pass holders?

[@sweetscienceofskipping7326]

how sad, everything 'abruptly' closing in Scarborough. SRT, now this. It's such a shame.

[@rosee7606]

Mismanagement of govt to blame.

[@Poppin-Seeds]

Don’t question the science

[@ClarkGreaseball]

Climate change caused the rapid structural failure.😊

[@emf49]

😂😅😂😅😂😅

[@patrickpoisson9851]

Sniff! I smell corruption too!

[@KiddeeKush]

This was inevitable it seems, a place that opened my eyes to science as a wee little boy. Thank you Ontario Science Centre!

[@robertmontgomery110]

IT WAS A REGULAR STOP FOR MY KIDS ANYTIME SCHOOL WAS CLOSED

[@rosee7606]

Love the Ontario Science Centre. 🙂

[@parkerbohnn]

@@robertmontgomery110 Or open as many times classrooms full of students would visit it.

[@mikesrdtrukr]

Watch how fast that 40 mill turns into 75 mill and 3 years instead of 2.

[@JWMottonEnt]

There is a rally this Sunday to Save the Science Centre at Wells Hill Park, St Clair & Bathurst area. Starts at 12 noon

[@dwights1024]

why u wasting your time like that

[@lionseatfirstsportsent5971]

​@@dwights1024hehe lol.right! Complete waste of people's time.

[@TorontoLifeByRy]

Why is at st.clair and Barhurst which in nowhere near the Science Centre..oh wait it's a bunch of fake ass rich white people pretending like they actually give a shit..but all they really give a shit about is getting the attention they crave for thier social and social media status. Always doing things to benefit themselves and not others.

[@geofflepper3207]

​@@dwights1024 What a nonsensical comment. Just because you don't care about your community doesn't mean that everyone is as apathetic as you.

[@user-og2wt3le4j]

What happens to all the workers at the OSC?

[@andyscherer6936]

that's what I was wondering too

[@parkerbohnn]

Pogey.

[@jimbarron8688]

Can you imagine the wealthy people cuing up for a nice big piece of that beautiful ravine land.

[@BRD-MC]

I'm sure his metrolinx buddies will find a use for the land.

[@funtimedude1]

Funny. I believe science park in Edmonton shut down years ago for structural issues. Was just shut down, never rebuilt.

[@michaelkors6935]

the first time i visited Ontario Science Centre was in 1983 and the last time was almost 20 yrs ago. i was sadden that on my last visit the buildings stood dilapidated and poorly maintained

[@mraso30]

Yeah I went in 2018 or 2019 and it was not very well taken care of honestly. And most of the exhibits were the exact same ones I saw as a child 15-20 years prior.....

[@user-zk4tu9vx9g]

WHO,are the infrastructure "OFFICIALS ".this is NOT a DECISION FOR "ANYONE " but The Canadian Government. AND MUST BE Proposed in Parliamentary Debate.Period! Just Who,WHO, are those people who think CANADA IS A Kindergartens Playground?Where's our National Security ,

[@jamesbrennenman8671]

Ontario government boy...not the feds. This is Ford's handy work!!

[@dorisevans3536]

IT'S ALL BULLSHIT

[@richardperkins2781]

Shady… like the Premiere, who is absolutely corrupt.

[@user-zk7hv4kr1d]

If that was true then the ttc would have been shutdown years ago 😂😂😂

[@cid3384]

I wonder who's going to get the contract. Good idea to investigate their interests and who will vote that specific engineering firm for the job. This has corruption written all over it. The part about it taking 2 years to finish is suspect to no end

[@user-zk4tu9vx9g]

Werr All Sick of the double standards. The lack of truthfulness, and accountability,of standards, of Rules and Regulations, of Rule of Law.! Its All about swinging a hammer 24/7 ,Because Someone's breaking the ground rules and running outta time ,to complete ANOTHER PHASE,WITHIN A SET,given TIMESPAN!.?hmmm

[@AnnaAnnieAnneofGreenGables]

Ford has a plan I can't wait for judgment day

[@Yoopsen213]

Absolutely avoidable. Heartbreaking.

[@glennfaulds4665]

now thats a bunch of Bull Shit

[@ClarkGreaseball]

🐂💩😊

[@ClarkGreaseball]

🐂💩😁

[@timgood872]

Rather convenient, one might say. Or, just maybe, the Ford gov should have funded the necessary maintenance that they haven't funded while in power.

[@rodneyramsay5561]

A building dedicated to human intelligence failing to support itself 😮

[@fritzsue]

Wow how convenient

[@Ayaz-popal]

Very tactical Mr Ford

[@Pea360]

Lie you want move it longtime

[@masterplanner4843]

very ironic, consider the state of science in Canada...( not good ).

[@rafalklepinski7372]

Remember a store called Efston Science? Last place for a layman to get science equipment. Closed now for years. Yeah, you don't need science to be a realtor. ;)

[@jiggycalzone8585]

Didnt they just add a massive brand new building on the other side of the old main entrance? This and cancelling the plan to move downtown toronto (personally fine with them not. As if toronto isnt crowded enough) This isnt politics, just terrible management. I bet if i check the treasurer or CFO has been involved for under 4 years

[@CaptArgo24]

conveniently...

[@Switters77]

Why is this blatant corruption allowed to take place in this country? This criminal activity gets thrown in our face without care, and nothing is ever done. Politicians use taxpayers' money for their own personal gains, and there is never a reprocussion. This country is making me ill. Canada has and continues to change for the worse. Is there any hope? Anyway, I will miss this place. At least I got to share it with my kids.

[@geofflepper3207]

So huge numbers of people continued to use Union Station for years while much of the station was being repaired and refurbished but when a section of roof at the Ontario Science Center needs to be repaired the Ontario government instantly shuts down the Science Center permanently and builds a construction site fence around the Science Center instead of just repairing the damaged roof and shutting down just that part of the Science Center. And this happens just when the provincial government is in hot water for unilaterally deciding to move the Science Center to Ontario Place without public consultation and without consulting stakeholders and without public support. And the Ford government has a history of creating policies to make wealthy business people wealthier without consulting with experts, stakeholders or the public. No wonder everyone is suspicious. I wonder what odds Vegas would give for the chances that within ten years that land will be owned by developers and will not all be used to create a community center and other services for the people in the neighborhood.

[@linabas9007]

Soooo sad 😢 😢😢😢😢 Should have pay attention to it before comes to this point 🤔

[@mov090]

I'm sorry but isn't $40,000,000 rather excessive to simply replace concrete panels?

[@dorisevans3536]

YOU ARE MAKING SENSE......FORD GOV DOESN'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS

[@westbenchmancave]

Remember , just like Covid, you need to follow the science…….

[@legendzero9000]

They're closing a science centre. I'm not convinced that Canada has lost it. I hope it's just it's structural issue but if it's not that's messed up on a whole new level.

[@stevedenis8292]

You really can't go back . Used to go to all the places like the science center the ROM and Ontario place as a kid . Went with parents but as I got older pre teen I when with a friend back in the 70's. lost rack of how many times. Grew up and went back to them when I became a dad with my own kid .Hope it opens again .

[@cheryl4549]

I liked taking my children to the Planatarium but that has been gone for a long time now.

[@stevedenis8292]

@@cheryl4549 Last time I was there with my daughter on a school trip there were 9 planets . Over to 20 years ago.

[@CanadianEhHole]

The OSC has been terrible for awhile now. Outdated and dilapidated. All of the people who have protested this are 50+ with fond memories of this place but it hasn't improved in all of those years and all they have is nostalgia dictating their feelings.

[@jasonseymour-rf6zz]

Condos, condos, condos…buy the time this is demolished and the red tape adhered too interest rates will be down and primed for the buying frenzy

[@greggreg2263]

Looks like somebody important wants that land😮

[@anniegoulaheee8025]

Shuuuuure it's structural issues. Dougie has had his greedy eye on that place for quite sometime.

[@elim7228]

Breaking News indeed. The panels are breaking. The city of Toronto is broke too.

[@kiricappuchin]

WHAT THE HELL MAN... I wanted to go this summer with my family... Ugh we haven't been there in years...😭 Something smells fishy here.. I don't believe it had to be closed immediately, right now, with no announcement or closing ceremony.

[@Butman28]

That sounds suspect to me. I don't believe it for a second! I would like to see a copy of the report with someone's name on it.

[@alicerizing280]

BS

[@marinagallant1847]

Let me guess that some money has been exchanged to build highrises

[@johnsc17]

Lol first phase of closing it down to make condominiums. Second stage is to wait, get investors, funnel money and have our politicians reek havoc. Third phase, demolition. Fourth phase, annouce a new building project, quality of building is low. Make more money off renting and selling. 5th phase, they will announce a new science center.... Who knows where!

[@stayclassyjay]

not surprise if this does happened.

[@biggearn]

what a scam too force the closure so they can push the move too the waist of money that the ontairo place n sell the old place too one of his buddies too build condo>s.what kind of kickbask is he getting is a good question too ask

[@malaudisa]

Much more fun to start and fund new shiny objects while what's already there falls apart.

[@IRBry]

is that irony?

[@musicgodess80s]

Well isn't that so convenient for Ford !! Funny how this never came up before now

[@jo-annleake8198]

This is so sad for our neighborhood

[@56nickrich]

What's the plan for the land?

[@jatse511]

I wouldn't say this is a conspiracy, but I can go as far as say OSC being unsafe is just another sign that toronto is failing. And that's just a tiny part of the emerging failed state called Canada.

[@tseliot5514]

Aaahhh, good memories now come to an end

[@robertb8629]

Canazuela

[@speedwack]

All that science and they couldn’t figure out the building was collapsing

[@letsgetweirdtv1]

Science centre for about engineering eh....

[@worldsstongeststrains983]

The roof is made from a material called RAAC. reinforced aerated auto clave concrete. It’s essentially concrete with bubbles in it to make it lighter. It was widely used in the 60s and 70s. It is no longer used in roofing for a very good reason. It absorbs water which erodes and cracks the RAAC. You can’t save it. Tear it down and build a new one.

[@whyimsmarterthanyou]

New developer buddy on the scene.

[@user-fb5bt6jd7v]

Not that I care, but incompetence never ceases to amaze !

[@annettetuck2477]

Thanks Ford you got what you wanted again! Screw the public but give to your buddies.

[@DaRickPro]

I'm pretty sure that I heard many years ago that the Science Centre needed repairs or relocation. Was it really unseen that the closure happened, or did they not want to tell us they had already decided that they weren't going to fund a historic site of Toronto... in order to resell the land?

[@monicalogtenberg9403]

Hmm interesting… next it will be cheaper and to move to Ontario place…

[@dwaynegalvin8799]

I thought for sure it was going to be a water main break! Maybe later huh!

[@jjHunsecker]

The OSC was probably showing leftover exhibits from the 1970s that had been gathering dust for decades. I have the feeling it's like a ghost town most of the time.

[@parkerbohnn]

I went there dozens of times in school back in the 1970's. It's sad they have to turn it into condos.

[@primolivingbc5138]

I went to a rave there in 1999....... it was awesome!!

[@johns9969]

Yearly membership, staff are saying they are finding cracks everywhere. It's concrete built on the side of a ravine 50 years ago. What could go wrong?

[@redstone5062]

If you think this is bad, wait until you see how much it will cost to repair the CN Tower when the time comes.

[@mawimawile]

I remember going to it so many times as a kid, I will miss the science centre :(

[@mrkman62]

Looks like one of Ford's builder friends is going to get a nice piece of property for a discounted price.

[@iyhchan]

It’s sounds fishy: the timing of the report as Ford wants to move it. Why Toronto not ask for a second engineering report? What is the real estimate repair cost or a partial tear down?

[@lindsay0951]

GOOD BUY FORD ! THIS IS THE LAST STRAW !YOUR GONE ! PACK YOUR BAGS !!!!!