Ontario Science Centre to Open Interim Harbourfront Location by Summer 2026

Ontario Science Centre Harbourfront location will offer expanded programming until the new facility opens at Ontario Place.

TORONTO — The Ontario Science Centre will open a new interim home at the Harbourfront Centre by summer 2026, ensuring continued public access to science education and programming while the province builds a new, permanent facility at Ontario Place. The Ontario government says the move will support jobs, boost waterfront tourism and enhance year-round cultural activity along Toronto’s central lakeshore.

Minister of Tourism, Culture and Gaming Stan Cho said the temporary location will allow the Science Centre to maintain its mission and programming during the redevelopment period. In the official release, he noted that establishing a waterfront location will help families continue to enjoy “world-class science programming” as construction progresses at Ontario Place.

Thrilled to share that the @OntScienceCtr is relocating its interim operations to Harbourfront Centre! Families can look forward to new exhibitions, workshops, and events while we protect Ontario’s iconic cultural spaces and boost Toronto’s waterfront. pic.twitter.com/LJKMpjPbzy

— Stan Cho (@StanChoMPP) December 10, 2025

Expanded Programming on the Waterfront

The interim site builds on the success of KidSpark, the Science Centre’s hands-on learning space that opened at Harbourfront Centre in December 2024. The expanded Harbourfront footprint—approximately 86,000 square feet—will feature:

• Exhibition galleries

• Workshop and classroom space

• Outdoor programming areas

• Shared community event spaces

The Science Centre says the new layout is designed to support interactive learning experiences for students, educators and families until the Ontario Place facility is complete.

Ontario Science Centre CEO Paul Kortenaar said the waterfront location will offer “more opportunities for visitors to enjoy hands-on science experiences,” and Harbourfront Centre leadership echoed the sentiment, emphasizing alignment between the two institutions’ cultural and educational missions.

Supporting Jobs and Tourism

The province views the interim Science Centre as part of a larger effort to activate and strengthen Toronto’s central waterfront. The government highlighted recent investments, including $2.2 million toward The Corleck, a newly launched Irish-Canadian arts venue. Together, these initiatives aim to stimulate local economic growth, attract visitors, and support cultural organizations across the region.

The Harbourfront Centre, located along Queens Quay between Union Station and Ontario Place, is expected to play a central role in connecting visitors to the waterfront as redevelopment continues.

Meanwhile, Ontario Science Centre Experiences at CF Sherway Gardens will remain open until January 4, 2026, after which staff will shift operations to support the expanded Harbourfront location.

Board leaders from both the Ontario Science Centre and Harbourfront Centre welcomed the interim move, calling it an important foundation for long-term revitalization of Ontario’s waterfront and for the Science Centre’s future home at Ontario Place.

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