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Ontario Science Centre to Close Immediately, Announces Province

The Ontario Science Centre is shutting down immediately following an engineering report commissioned by the province, which indicates that the roof could collapse. Although repairs are possible, the province has decided to indefinitely close the location.

On Friday, the province announced that the building’s lightweight concrete, widely used in the 1960s, has become problematic and requires expensive repairs.

This abrupt closure follows the controversial 2023 announcement that the popular landmark would be moved to the Ontario Place site, a move the province claims will reduce costs.

The report states that while the building is currently safe to enter, it will not be by the end of October due to the threat of snow. Consequently, the province insists it must be vacated immediately.

The province’s decision to relocate the site has faced backlash from opposition parties, advocacy groups, and the Thorncliffe Park neighborhood, where the Science Centre is situated. This community, which has a high population of young children and limited recreational space, is particularly affected.

An engineering report by Rimkus Consulting Group, released this week, revealed that each of the Science Centre’s three buildings has roof panels in a “distressed, high-risk” condition, according to a news release from the Ministry of Infrastructure.