Item - 2025.MM35.4

Tracking Status

This item will be considered by City Council on December 16, 17 and 18, 2025.

MM35.4 - Protecting the Ontario Science Centre Building and Preserving Recreation Assets for Flemingdon and Thorncliffe Park Residents - by Councillor Josh Matlow, seconded by Councillor Jon Burnside

Notice of Motion

Consideration Type:: ACTION

Wards:: All

* Notice of this Motion has been given.
* This Motion is subject to referral to the Executive Committee. A two-thirds vote is required to waive referral.

Communications have been submitted on this Item.

Recommendations

Councillor Josh Matlow, seconded by Councillor Jon Burnside, recommends that:

1. City Council request the Province of Ontario to provide a comprehensive update on:

a. the current condition of the Ontario Science Centre buildings;

b. the status of all major state of good repair investments that have occurred in the Science Centre buildings since June 21, 2024; and

c. any building stabilization activities that have been or will be implemented.

2. City Council request the Province of Ontario to maintain the outdoor landscaping and activity installations at the Science Centre site located at 770 Don Mills Road, including the Teluscape Exploration Plaza, and provide public access to serve the recreation needs of the Thorncliffe and Flemingdon Park Communities.

Summary

In June 2024, the Provincial Government announced its intention to move the Ontario Science Centre to a much smaller location at Ontario Place, and closed the Science Centre Building at 770 Don Mills Road. This announcement was done without consultation with residents of Flemingdon Park and Thorncliffe Park, who relied on the Centre for employment and education opportunities.

Over 96,000 letters regarding the importance of the Science Centre have been sent to Premier Ford through the Save Ontario Science Centre campaign. The City of Toronto has an obligation to explore all possible means to keep the Science Centre at its current location in spite of the Province’s current plans.

The future of the Science Centre or STEM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) programming at 770 Don Mills Road depends on the upkeep of the building. The province has obligations to maintain the building under the lease, but City Council has not received information verifying that the building is being adequately maintained. One key concern is that if the province is not turning on the heat during this winter, the building’s condition could deteriorate at an accelerated pace. This motion requests the Province of Ontario provide timely information about the current condition of the building and any investments that have been implemented or are planned.

Furthermore, the Teluscape Exploration Plaza at 770 Don Mills Road, which is a free interactive outdoor venue containing park space and public art, has been significantly impacted by the province’s closure of the building and the current Ontario Line construction staging. It is critical that this outdoor asset be preserved as recreation space and public access is protected for the benefit of Thorncliffe and Flemingdon communities.

Background Information

Member Motion MM35.4
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/mm/bgrd/backgroundfile-260969.pdf

Communications

(December 11, 2025) E-mail from Shakhlo Sharipova (MM.Supp)
(December 11, 2025) E-mail from Kate Dupuis (MM.Supp)
(December 11, 2025) Letter from Jason Ash, Save Ontario�s Science Centre (MM.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/mm/comm/communicationfile-200895.pdf
(December 12, 2025) E-mail from Floyd Ruskin (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Beatrice Taylor (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Gail Wetton (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Kevin Proulx (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Maria Pettler (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Ryan Cooper (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Stacy Kei (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Steve Dunslow (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Teresa Samuel (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Theresa Magee (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Anda Lupascu (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Emilie Rugard (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Geoff Shore (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Huitzilihuitl Balderas (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Kate Ching (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Lauren Novak (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Perth Pelham (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Sierra Constantinides (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Tanya Connors (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Trevor Day (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Abeir Liton (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Jse-Che Lam (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Kara Flannigan (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Liza Hersh (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Mary Ann Hogan (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Mindy Wai (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Samantha Hayes (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Sara Blumenstein (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Sharon Barr (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from William Shookhoff (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Daena Evelyn (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Debbie Hewitt (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Hannah Crump (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Hilary Land (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Laura Stavro-Beauchamp (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Merri Aiken (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Nikki McIntosh (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Sarah Bartlett (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Shannon Clayton (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Valerie Vicente (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Finn Small (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Alan MacLeod (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Amelia Phagoo (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Dan Ostler (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Elyse Friedman (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Jef Theysmeyer (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Mary-Beth Sowerby (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Rachel MacLean (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Sidney Hauber (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Gianna Wichelow (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Jeff Blackburn (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Kate Ballweg (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Maxine Schnepf (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Nicole Garcia (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Rebecca Maynard (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Robert Shields (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Zak Tatham (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Alice Reygel (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Andres Tucci Clarke (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Andrew Robinson (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Andrew Starling (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Anne-marie Armstrong (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Finola D'souza (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Kiyomi Hidaka (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Luke Barton (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Margarita Tsetsekas (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Patti Dawson (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Sharan Lail (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Sim Brigden (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Tyler Knapp (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Jason Greenley (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Caroline Kierstead (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Harriet Rogers (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Jennifer Chua (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Joanna Armstrong (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Jordan Valles (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Leigh Merotto (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Leslie Burt (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Marilyn Crabe (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Nadir Pirani (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Robb Wright (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Susie Eaton (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Trista Chan (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Chris Lee (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Anna Kennedy (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Dorian Baldwin (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Elle Ho (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Emily Mets (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Eric Huang (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Holly Pagnacco (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Jennifer Malcolm (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Marty Linton (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Mary Pat O'Connor (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Petra Wrzesnewskyj-Cottrell (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Sarah Fortino (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Wendy Brooks (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Wendy Robertson (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Vincent Hong (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Jennifer Thompson (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Dominique Bruce (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Agnes Orzechowski (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from John Whitehead (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Alia Erlich (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Sameer Sayed (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Robert Iveniuk (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Klaudia Jumaa (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Matthew Wong (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Megan Spasevski (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Cody Kwan (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Isabel Tang (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Frank Valli (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Sameer Reza (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Teresa Veldhuis (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Katherine Wright (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Jane Law Scott (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Sunday Harrison (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Barbara Brassard (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Dom Losenno (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Selena Lynch (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Jessica Nelles (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Brigitte Nowak (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Jennifer Kotler (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Rosalyn Wise (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Romeo Tirona (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Ellen Berrey (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Alicia Douglas (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Anna Khouzam (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Chanel Tsang (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Chester Hansen (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Esha Leon (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Johnson Kong (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Julia MacMillan (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Shailendar Gill (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Vicki Wojcik (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Alix Gravel (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Nicole Morris (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Nicky Morris (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Aaron Matthews (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Elizabeth Brown (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Ellaine Dee (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Emily Howell (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Leah Scherk (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Lisa Deutsch (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Marina Reshetnikova (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Paul Ungar (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Spencer Tyber (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Kari Raymer Bishop (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Caitlin Carlisle (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Claire Bennett (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from David Keogh (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Jennifer Green (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Kristina Opashinov (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Laura Clark (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Lucy Dyment (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Midori Takahashi (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Naomi and Greg Melville-Laborde (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Patricia Hallam-Mark (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Paula Dubeau (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Adam Vandermeij (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Charlie Sackett (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Dianne and Jim Moore (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Kaitlin Monkman (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Ken Chew (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Marian Kehayas (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Marlene Faulkner (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Matthieu Yiptong (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Roxy Hart (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Catherine Khemraj (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Dorothy van Grootheest (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Doug Harrison (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Gabrielle Blais-Jones (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Sandra Huh (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Andrew MacGregor (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Anna-Louise Richardson (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Colleen Harper (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Emily Switzer (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Heather Pun (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Jordan Mlynek (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Lydia Young (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Susan Wesson (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Chloe Lamarche (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Raghu Venugopal (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Amy Rogers (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Cynthia Brown (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Hugh MacArthur (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Jennifer Goldhar (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Logan Wilson (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Andrea Byrne (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Bill Vandermeij (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Julie Sagara (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Adrienne Ramsay (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Kellly MacIntosh (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) Letter from Liz Morellato, Leaside Towers Tenants Association (MM.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/mm/comm/communicationfile-201267.pdf
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Andrew Gregg (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Frankie Yau (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Jennie Shaw (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Kathleen Ogden (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Leah Tysoe (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Lowell Rose (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Matthew Freedlander (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Meg Bowie (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Seth Montmarquette (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Angela Bryant (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Julie Vandermeij (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Janet Klees (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Julie Binmore (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Sarah Bradbury (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Simone Merrill (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from William Garnavos (MM.Supp)
(December 13, 2025) E-mail from Kellie Hadjidimitriou (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Andrew Paton (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Catherine Limbertie (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Christina Walsh (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Darian Kani-Sanchez (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Emily Hogg (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Felix An (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Jeffrey Balmer (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Jennifer Howard (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Linda Willis (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Nicole D'Amario (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Nora Underwood (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Rebecca Nmezi (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Sue Berlove (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Tresanne Busato (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Flanny Alamparambil (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Chandra Robinson (MM.New)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Erin Annette (MM.New)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Jennifer Alexander (MM.New)
(December 14, 2025) E-mail from Maryke Bugeya (MM.Supp)
(December 14, 2025) Letter from Geoff Kettel, on behalf of Leaside Residents Association Incorporated (MM.Supp)
https://www.toronto.ca/legdocs/mmis/2025/mm/comm/communicationfile-201293.pdf
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Jason Greenley (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Laurel Shugarman (MM.New)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Nova Dexter (MM.New)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Yobie Saravanabavan (MM.Supp)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Daniele Stoddard (MM.New)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Norman Hann (MM.New)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Doug Finley (MM.New)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Nancy White (MM.New)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Fraser Thorpe (MM.New)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Spencer Jones (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Suze Armstrong (MM.New)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Ashley Collier (MM.New)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Lindsay Matheson (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Robert Gosse (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Anastasia Zaver (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Tara Khiabani (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Joanne S (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Ivana Santini (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Nicole Corrado (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Marilyn Beaton (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Geoff Lumby (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Lorraine Cowley (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Amy Satterthwaite (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Jessica Raymond (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Alison Terpstra (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from D Winthrop (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Angie Dusome (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from John Yelland (MM.New)
(December 15, 2025) E-mail from Ashley Dadoun (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Jennie Ziemianin (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Heather Frazer (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Michelle Balaban (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Jessica Diener (MM.New)
(December 16, 2025) E-mail from Tanya Mason (MM.New)