The Ontario Science Centre will relocate to a temporary home at Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre by summer 2026, ensuring the institution can continue delivering programs, supporting staff and contributing to the city’s tourism economy while its new permanent facility is built at Ontario Place.
The province announced the move Tuesday, positioning the interim site as a key step in maintaining public access to one of Ontario’s most recognized cultural institutions. The waterfront location will host exhibitions, workshops and community programming across an expansive footprint, injecting new activity into a high-traffic area between Union Station and Ontario Place.
“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,” said Stan Cho, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming. “This move will help the Science Centre continue its mission of creating lasting memories with friends and family and nurturing a lifelong love of science, all while contributing to the vibrancy of Toronto’s waterfront.”
The announcement follows the opening of the Science Centre’s KidSpark learning space at Harbourfront Centre in December 2024. That installation, aimed at younger audiences, has drawn steady attendance and served as an initial test of the site’s potential for larger-scale science programming. Building on the momentum, the Science Centre will now expand its operations into a roughly 86,000-square-foot space featuring exhibition zones, classrooms, outdoor program areas and shared community spaces.
Paul Kortenaar, CEO of the Ontario Science Centre, said the interim move will allow staff to grow programming while advancing plans for the new permanent science centre. “We are delighted that our interim home will be on Toronto’s waterfront at Harbourfront Centre,” he said. “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. It is an exciting time for the Ontario Science Centre, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors, students and educators to explore, learn and experiment with us!”
Harbourfront Centre leadership also welcomed the expansion. CEO Cathy Loblaw said the interim science centre aligns naturally with the organization’s role as a hub for culture, learning and recreation. “Harbourfront Centre has long been a trusted destination for families, and we are pleased to welcome the Ontario Science Centre’s expansion on our campus,” she said. “As Toronto’s waterfront home for arts, culture, learning and recreation, Harbourfront Centre is a natural fit for the centre’s interim location, creating a place where kids and families can explore, play and discover together.”
The province has framed the project as part of a broader effort to strengthen economic activity across Toronto’s central waterfront. Recent public investments include $2.2 million to support The Corleck, a new Irish-Canadian arts venue also located on the waterfront. Officials say the Science Centre’s expanded presence will help attract visitors throughout the year, supporting revitalization efforts and local businesses.
John Carmichael, chair of the Ontario Science Centre Board of Trustees, said the move provides continuity as the organization transitions toward its future at Ontario Place. “The government’s new interim location at Harbourfront Centre will allow the Ontario Science Centre to put down roots on the waterfront, not far from our future home at Ontario Place,” he said. “This provides stability and the knowledge that the Science Centre will be creating lasting science experiences and new memories for generations to come.”
Tenio Evangelista, chair of the Harbourfront Centre Board of Directors, emphasized the shared public mandate of the two institutions. “This investment will help to ensure the successful expansion of the Ontario Science Centre’s interim home,” he said. “For more than five decades, both Harbourfront Centre and the Ontario Science Centre have served as important public institutions dedicated to learning, culture and community. We value the Ontario government’s commitment to strengthening these long-standing assets on the waterfront and look forward to working with the Ontario Science Centre to deliver high-quality, accessible experiences for communities across the province.”
George Zegarac, CEO of Waterfront Toronto, noted the importance of year-round programming to maintaining an active downtown shoreline. “Year-round activation is critical to waterfront revitalization. Harbourfront Centre is a beloved waterfront institution, and we’re pleased to see this new partnership with the Ontario Science Centre that will help create a more vibrant, active waterfront,” he said.
The Science Centre’s temporary location at CF Sherway Gardens will continue operating until January 4, 2026. Staff will then focus on the build-out of the Harbourfront Centre site ahead of its planned summer opening.
The province has not provided updated timelines for the permanent Ontario Science Centre at Ontario Place, but the interim facility is expected to remain in operation until construction is complete.
