Cinesphere? Megamall? Casino? Ferris wheel? Critics worry about Ford government’s plan for Ontario Place

Tourism Minister Michael Tibollo said in a news release Friday that the government is soliciting international proposals on how to turn Ontario Place, which closed in 2012 amid slumping attendance, into “a spectacular world-class, year-round destination to visit in North America.

“Our vision for Ontario Place will make it an impressive attraction that could include exciting sport and entertainment landmarks, public parks or shopping,” Tibillo said. “We could also have places for recreation, for people to come together and to hear great music at the existing amphitheatre.”

Guidelines for bidders say Ontario wants to attract “local, provincial and international visitors — with potential landmarks such as sports and entertainment attractions, and retail.”

Both the east and west islands are being opened for change. “The areas available for development includes the Ontario Place islands, mainland, pods and the Cinesphere,” which was designed by famed architect Eberhard Zeidler, the guidelines state.

“Proposals may be for a portion of the site or for the entire site,” and the province intends to reserve only 7.5 acres for parkland on the 155-acre site. “Submissions that propose the use of any part of Trillium Park will be required to develop new park land of an equivalent size at the site.”

Provincial heritage officials have told the Star that Ontario Place is identified under the Ontario Heritage Act as a provincially significant heritage property. But they couldn’t say that would stop the Ontario government from approving demolition of buildings if it so chooses.

Tibollo’s statement says there will be no condos or other residential development, and no sale of land, only long-term leases.

Mayor John Tory said he is opposed to the idea of a casino and wants to see the architectural heritage of the site protected, but welcomes the idea of revitalizing Ontario Place.

“I do believe that whatever changes are made should ensure Ontario Place is a year-round attraction that focuses on culture, music, and recreation,” said Tory.

He said the province has promised to involve the city in the discussions about the future of the site.

“I would also want to consider having the city itself put forward some ideas for this very unique site,” said Tory.

Councillor Joe Cressy (Ward 10 Spadina-Fort York) took issue with the plan.

“While I am glad that they didn’t announce a new casino or megamall today, they have opened the door to the privatization of Ontario Place and that is deeply troubling,” said Cressy.

The Ford government’s plan, which could see the site’s landmark architectural features torn down and replaced by venues for shopping, sports and entertainment with little parkland, runs contrary to the redevelopment vision from planners and other experts recently interviewed by the Star.

Several reacted with shock at the Ford plan Friday, and vowed to rally Ontarians to fight it.

“I think our worst fears are being realized here,” said urban planner Ken Greenberg.

“There is potentially a wholesale demolition of all these truly valuable iconic assets or some part of them, potential destruction of Millennial Park, which could be moved or replaced even though it is one of the great parks Toronto has created in recent years, and no public money for capital or operating (costs), so no public aspect to it whatsoever.

“Ford is going after a Conservative project — this is not something the Liberals did, this is a (former Progressive Conservative premiers) John Robarts and Bill Davis project. From the very inception, the language they used to call it was a park, with some special things in it, but a park, public lands, a public resource. Ontario Place was neglected for some years but, oddly, it has been coming back.”

Cindy Wilkey of Waterfront for All, an advocacy group that drew hundreds of people to a recent public meeting to protect Ontario Place, said, “It’s completely outrageous that the province is abandoning Ontario Place as a public place for everyone.

“It’s a breathtaking disregard for an important iconic space that is part of the branding of Ontario and Toronto. The plan completely ignores years of planning work and consultation,” Wilkey said, as well as Indigenous claims affecting the land and agreement with the City of Toronto to look at co-ordinating redevelopment with city-owned Exhibition Place just to the north.

She predicted residents of Toronto and beyond will mobilize against the Ford plan, saying her group is starting to organize to change the province’s mind before the proposal process starts in spring.

The Ford government says it wants to hear from people. Before it seeks “expressions of interest” from developers, the province is inviting Ontarians to email ideas “that will help government realize their vision for Ontario Place.”

Michael McClelland, a Toronto architect who specializes in heritage conservation and urban design, helped get Zeidler’s Ontario Place buildings on the Dutch-based Docomomo registry of significant modern structures about two decades ago.

He called Tibollo’s redevelopment plan “stupidly put together” and held out hope that any developer who considers the site will see the Cinesphere and pods as huge assets rather than targets.

“It’s like developing Niagara Falls and saying, ‘You don’t have to keep the falls,’” McClelland said of presenting the site as a blank canvas.

Davis, who opened the site with fanfare in 1971, recently told the Star that the new Ontario Place must remain “genuinely family friendly.” A Ferris wheel might be OK, he said, but not a casino.

The former premier envisioned “more programming for children, more interactive displays, more cultural and museum facilities, more room for sports,” and said “it would be a shame and a disservice if commercial gain replaced the public interest on the present site of Ontario Place.”

The Ford government release makes no mention of sparing the William G. Davis Trail for pedestrians and cyclists, which was opened by the Kathleen Wynne government in 2017.

Cressy, the city councillor for the area, noted that the process doesn’t plan for or account for public consultation. “And so, this open call for submissions without clear criteria, demanding and calling for public access, could in fact lead to a megamall or a casino, decided on the fly by the provincial government,” he said.

At Queen’s Park, NDP MPP Chris Glover expressed alarm at the Tory government’s plan.

“Doug Ford has long tried to get his hands on Toronto’s waterfront so he could follow through on his casino and megamall dreams — dreams he cooked up in a backroom with an Australian megamall corporation,” said Glover (Spadina-Fort York.

“It looks like Doug Ford is using his new power as premier to plow ahead with that scheme,” the New Democrat warned.

“He’s accepting international, private proposals from corporations to demolish the Cinesphere and iconic pods, and take over Ontario Place. With that, it’s clear: Ford’s not listening to the people of Ontario who own Ontario Place, he’s listening to corporations that want to turn Ontario Place into a cash cow for themselves.”

Glover said the premier needs to realize “Ontario Place is not your private property.

“It belongs to the people. Your backroom deals shouldn’t determine what happens to our precious waterfront. Let the people decide,” he said.

With files from Robert Benzie and Francine Kopun