Ontario Science Centre lays off entire science department amid restructuring for new Ontario Place facility

The Ontario Science Centre has made sweeping staff cuts that include eliminating its entire science department, laying off 30 employees as part of a major organizational restructuring. The Canadian Press obtained a recording of CEO Paul Kortenaar's video conference call with staff where he announced the changes, which come as the institution prepares to transition from its original east Toronto location to a new $1-billion facility at Ontario Place scheduled to open in 2029.

Details of the restructuring

Kortenaar informed employees that several departments would be dissolved entirely under the new organizational structure. The affected units include business development, science, security, and live exhibits. The science department elimination represents a particularly significant change for an institution whose core mission involves science education. According to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union, these cuts eliminate over 540 years of combined institutional knowledge and experience from the organization.

The province had previously closed the original science centre building in summer 2024, citing an engineering report about roof deficiencies. However, critics have questioned the urgency of that closure decision, noting the building withstood record snowfall and rainfall in the two years prior to closing. The government maintains the restructuring will help streamline operations as the institution prepares for its new home.

Leadership perspectives on the changes

Kortenaar framed the restructuring as necessary for the institution's future viability. "Our organizational reality has changed significantly and changes are needed to prepare us for the future," he told staff. "It is critical that we adjust our structure and plan for future operational and programming needs." He described how departments would be consolidated or reconfigured while new positions with different skill requirements would be created, including a new research and impact team.

The office of newly appointed Tourism, Culture and Gaming Minister Zee Hamid emphasized that science programming would continue despite the departmental elimination. "To be clear, science programming, expertise and exhibits remain embedded across the entire organization," the minister's statement read. "There will be no change to the science programming and other learning experiences delivered by the Ontario Science Centre." The province estimates the transition will ultimately create 1,000 new jobs, with some affected workers being offered positions at interim and permanent locations.

Criticism from unions and politicians

The decision to eliminate the science unit drew immediate backlash from the Ontario Public Service Employees Union. Local 549 president Raluca Ellis posed the fundamental question: "How can you have an Ontario Science Centre with no science unit?" This sentiment was echoed by Liberal MPP Adil Shamji, whose Don Valley East riding includes the now-closed original science centre location. Shamji called the move a "real head scratcher" and drew a pointed comparison: "What is a science centre without its science staff? It's like a hospital without doctors and nurses or a fire department without firefighters."

Jason Ash, co-chair of the advocacy group Save Ontario's Science Centre, offered a darker interpretation of the government's motivations. "With these layoffs, the province appears to be repositioning the Ontario Science Centre as a vacation day trip for American tourists, not an educational destination for Ontario's children," Ash said. These critics question whether the restructuring represents a shift away from the institution's educational mission toward a more commercially-driven model.

Context of the Ontario Place relocation

The science centre layoffs occur against the backdrop of the controversial Ontario Place redevelopment plan. Provincial documents previously revealed that relocating the science centre was seen as a way to temper criticism of the project's more contentious element - a private spa and waterpark to be operated by European company Therme. The government had been planning the science centre relocation well before closing the original facility.

Currently, the science centre operates from an interim downtown Toronto location and various pop-up sites while continuing its school programming. The government maintains these changes will ultimately enhance the institution's ability to deliver science education, though the elimination of specialized science staff raises questions about how this will be achieved.

Broader implications of the changes

The restructuring represents more than just personnel changes - it signals a potential transformation in how one of Ontario's most important educational institutions defines its mission. The elimination of dedicated science staff suggests a possible shift from being a research-informed educational facility to a more entertainment-focused operation. This aligns with the government's framing of the new Ontario Place location as part of broader tourism and economic development strategy.

As the institution transitions to its new home over the next five years, questions remain about how the elimination of scientific expertise will affect program quality and whether the promised 1,000 new jobs will adequately compensate for the loss of specialized knowledge. The changes also raise concerns about accessibility, as the new downtown waterfront location may prove less convenient for many families than the original site in the city's northeast.

Looking ahead

The coming months will reveal how the Ontario Science Centre adapts to its leaner structure during this transitional period. While the government insists the core educational mission remains unchanged, the elimination of the science department makes this claim difficult to reconcile with traditional understandings of how science education institutions operate. The provincial government faces ongoing scrutiny about its priorities for the science centre and whether the restructuring truly serves the best interests of Ontario residents, particularly students who have benefited from the institution's educational programming for decades.

As the science centre moves toward its 2029 opening at Ontario Place, the effectiveness of this new organizational model will become clearer. What remains uncertain is whether the institution can maintain its reputation for quality science education without the dedicated scientific staff that previously formed its foundation.