Toronto City Hall
100 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M5H 2N2
Attention: Sylwia Przezdziecki
RE: MM35.4 – Protecting the Ontario Science Centre Building and Preserving Recreation Assets for Flemingdon and Thorncliffe Park Residents
Member’s Motion by Councillor Josh Matlow, seconded by Councillor Jon Burnside (Ward All)
Dear Mayor Olivia Chow and Members of City Council,
The Leaside Residents Association (LRA) provides this correspondence to express our strong support for Councillor Matlow’s Members Motion, seconded by Councillor Burnside, which recommends that City Council:
- request the Province of Ontario to provide a comprehensive update on:
- the current condition of the Ontario Science Centre buildings;
- the status of all major state of good repair investments that have occurred in the Science Centre buildings since June 21, 2024; and
- any building stabilization activities that have been or will be implemented.
- 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.
Further, we support Save OSC’s request that City Counci support and assist the reopening to the public of the Teluscape Exploration Plaza, including the Flemingdon and Thorncliffe Park communities, who were intended to be beneficiaries of Telus’ generous gift.
Respectfully submitted,
Geoff Kettel
Co-Chair with Carol Burtin Fripp
CC: Jason Ash, Co-Chair Save Ontario’s Science Centre (OSC)
Motion carried on December 16-17, 2025, with amendments
Motion to Waive Referral (Carried)
Speaker Nunziata advised Council that the provisions of Chapter 27, Council Procedures, require that Motion MM35.4 be referred to the Executive Committee. A two-thirds vote of the Council Members present is required to waive referral.
1 – Motion to Amend Item (Additional) moved by Mayor Olivia Chow (Carried)
That:
1. City Council request the Province of Ontario, in consultation with the City of Toronto and local stakeholders, to erect and maintain, including necessary capital and operating funding, a temporary all-season facility at 770 Don Mills Road, to address the community’s urgent need for additional recreation and gathering space until such time as this proposed temporary use becomes incompatible with a future long-term use for 770 Don Mills Road.
Motion to Adopt Item as Amended (Carried)
Image: Canmenwalker, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
