Plans Unveiled for New Ontario Place

Plans Unveiled for New Ontario Place

July 30, 2021 Jim Byers

Three companies have been selected to redevelop the well-known Ontario Place theme park on Toronto’s waterfront.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Friday announced that Therme Group, Live Nation and Écorécréo Group were selected from a 2019 call for development proposals.

Therme Group, which calls itelf a “global wellbeing organization,” plans an all-season, year-round park that includes waterslides, pools, a wave pool, sports services, botanical gardens and eight acres of free beaches and parks.

“Therme Canada/Ontario Place will continue Ontario Place’s heritage revitalizing its original vision – celebrating the province and its culture and bringing a first-of-its-kind experience to Toronto’s waterfront,” company officials said. “Programming will include fun and healthy activities for all ages, and affordable wellness therapies to meet all needs. Delicious, healthy, and sustainably produced food is a cornerstone of the Therme experience and, guests can enjoy family meals, dinner with friends, and spectacular date-night entertainment.”

Costs for the project or for taxpayers weren’t immediately known. Nor is the cost for a single person or family to use the Therme facility. Therme said it’s investment is currently estimated to be CAD $350 million.

Canadian Press reports that Live Nation will redevelop the Budweiser Stage amphitheatre, a staple on the Canadian summer concert circuit, into a year-round venue with expanded audience capacity.

Écorécréo Group will build an adventure park with obstacle courses, ziplines, climbing walls and other activities and will run rentals for kayaks, canoes and other equipment.

Ontario Place closed its doors to the public in 2012 following years of financial losses. Premier Ford says he wants to rebuild Ontario Place to its former glory, but, given Toronto’s growth, many downtown residents have pushed to keep the area as more of an open parkland.

Canadian Press reports amenities at Ontario Place may take nine years to complete.

Therme says it will feature a free-access public beach and enhanced pedestrian and cycling access, allowing people to better connect with Lake Ontario.

Officials say Therme Canada will create more than 2,200 construction jobs and 800 full time permanent positions. It also can accommodate up to 3 million visitors to Ontario Place every year, thus supporting the city and province’s tourism sectors and post-pandemic recovery.