Exhibition Place looks at Ontario Place closure with optimism.
The Ontario Place Eco-Centre, seen here, gave new life to a building which was slated for demolition. It, along with much of Ontario Place will be closed indefinitely as the site's future is contemplated.
Staff file photo/ERIN HATFIELD
For many, the sudden announcement that the province of Ontario was shutting down Ontario Place was upsetting. But, just across the way from Ontario Place, the Chair of the Board of Governors at Exhibition Place is looking at this development as an opportunity.
In a press conference at Queen's Park the Minister of Finance Dwight Duncan and Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Michael Chan revealed the water park, amusement rides and the Cinesphere at Ontario Place will be closed indefinitely while a panel looks at how to make the 40-year-old waterfront amusement park bigger and better.
"We are taking a new step forward in the revitalization of Ontario Place to make it a 'must visit' destination and landmark for Ontario families and tourists from around the world," Chan said.
Former Ontario Progressive Conservative Leader John Tory will lead a CivicAction panel that will advise the government on the redevelopment of the site, which it's hoped will open in 2017.
Prior to this announcement, the Board of Governors at Exhibition Place had already started a process to look at increasing the physical integration between Exhibition grounds and Ontario Place.
The Board at Exhibition Place passed a motion at its December meeting to establish a committee of its board to meet with a similar committee out of Ontario Place to explore increased physical integration of the sites and more cooperation between Ontario Place and Exhibition Place.
"For me I was waiting to hear what was going to happen over there," said Etobicoke-Lakeshore Councillor Mark Grimes, who is also chair of the board of governors of Exhibition Place. "It has been studied to death and I think now is the time to move forward and I am anxious to sit down and start talking."
Grimes said he isn't sure what the announcement this morning will mean for the plans Exhibition Place had to discuss integration but he is optimistic.
"I think it is a great opportunity for Exhibition Place to work with Ontario Place," he said.
Grimes added he isn't aware what the status of the board at Ontario Place is at the moment but he is hoping to get a call from Tory in the next day or two to sit down with him.
"I am looking forward to working with John Tory, I know him very well and I have a good relationship with him so I hope to build on that," Grimes said.
He added he was pleased to hear Minister Chan talking about expediting and moving forward.
"That is what I am looking for, and being the Chair of Exhibition Place I think there is a great opportunity for both parties to work together to come up with a great facility on Toronto's waterfront."
As part of its 2009-2012 strategic plan it would develop a master plan, Exhibition Place has plans to make for a more pleasant pedestrian walk through the Exhibition Grounds to Ontario Place, with the anticipation that Ontario Place will become more active in the future and weld the sites together in a much more effective way.
The plans include an ambitious bridge from the Exhibition Grounds to Ontario Place, which would be designed, most likely through a design contest.