Ontario to Build New OPP Detachment at Ontario Place to Support Highway Upload
Ontario Place OPP detachment to enhance park safety and patrol Gardiner and DVP
TORONTO — The Ontario government has launched a Request for Proposals (RFP) to build a new Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachment at Ontario Place, a move tied to the province’s planned upload of the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway.
The detachment, to be located on Ontario Place’s East Island, will support year-round policing at the revitalized waterfront destination while also serving as a base for traffic enforcement once the Gardiner and DVP are officially designated as King’s Highways under provincial control.
“Protecting Ontario starts with keeping people safe where they live, work and play,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “This new OPP detachment will be well-positioned to patrol our highways, maintain a strong on-site policing presence and ensure the safety of families and all those visiting Ontario Place.”
Supporting highway upload and traffic enforcement
As part of the province’s New Deal for Toronto, ownership and maintenance of the Gardiner Expressway and Don Valley Parkway will shift from the City of Toronto to the provincial government. Once completed, the OPP will assume responsibility for traffic patrol on both corridors, while the Toronto Police Service will continue handling non-traffic-related policing duties.
The highways are considered critical economic routes, supporting the movement of goods, commuters and visitors across the Greater Toronto Area.
Expanded policing capabilities at Ontario Place
The new detachment will form part of a broader administration and maintenance complex replacing the current facility at Ontario Place. It is expected to include:
- A helicopter landing pad
- A proposed marine unit
- Ontario’s first OPP Mounted Unit
Officials say mounted units are particularly effective in large public spaces, offering increased visibility and improved crowd management in high-traffic areas.
The enhanced policing presence is being planned alongside the ongoing revitalization of Ontario Place, which is projected to attract up to six million visitors annually.
“Our government is ensuring it has the strong and reliable police presence it needs year-round,” said Tourism Minister Stan Cho. “The new on-site OPP detachment will strengthen public safety and help ensure visitors can enjoy Ontario Place safely and with confidence.”
Infrastructure investment and long-term planning
The RFP marks the next step in delivering infrastructure tied to both transportation and tourism priorities. The province says the project will help support safer highways, reduce congestion pressures and ensure the long-term reliability of key routes through Toronto.
Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria emphasized the broader objective of maintaining safe, toll-free highways while improving traffic flow for the more than 140,000 drivers who rely on the Gardiner and DVP daily.
With procurement now underway, the Ontario Place OPP detachment is positioned as a central component of the province’s integrated approach to public safety, transportation infrastructure and urban revitalization.
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