Toronto’s Shortage of Child-Friendly Spaces

Montreal has the Science Centre, Vancouver has Science World, Winnipeg has the Science Gallery at the Manitoba Museum and Sudbury has Science North. Toronto, however, has very few educational spaces dedicated to young people since the closure of the original Ontario Science Centre.

“We are very behind,” said Naomi Hamer, associate professor and chair of the English department at Toronto Metropolitan University. Her research fields include the place of children within museums.

According to Hamer, Toronto had plenty of children’s spaces from the late 1960s to the 1980s, but today, the city is feeling the repercussions of successive budget cuts enacted since the 1990s.

In addition to temporarily losing the Ontario Science Centre, Toronto has, over the past few decades, lost the Royal Ontario Museum’s Mc Laughlin Planetarium, which operated between 1968 and 1995, as well as the Children’s Own Museum, which took over the planetarium’s space in 1998 and closed in 2002.

Naomi Hamer, associate professor and chair of the English department at Toronto Metropolitan University, says Toronto is now behind other Canadian cities in terms of dedicated educational spaces for kids. (Sarah Tomlinson/CBC)

The centennial momentum

The opening of the Ontario Science Centre in 1969 marked an architectural and educational milestone fuelled by the momentum of the Canadian Confederation Centennial, according to Hamer. Only a year prior, the planetarium opened its doors.

It was a golden age of Canadian culture, with Toronto a leader in children’s museums, Hamer said.

“A lot of innovation emerged during this period, supported by federal funding,” Hamer said.

The ensuing decade or so would see a wealth of Canadian content for children including books, films and music as well as figures who achieved success internationally such as children’s singer Raffi and entertainers Sharon, Lois & Bram.

“Along with the San Francisco Exploratorium, which opened the same year, the Science Centre was way ahead of its time in terms of experiential learning for science and environmental education,” Hamer said.

The Ontario Science Centre currently operates out of Harbourfront Centre featuring interactive exhibits at Kid Spark. (Ontario Science Centre)

Limited activities with prices that add up

Today, Toronto has very few major establishments designed specifically for children.

Choices are limited to Riverdale Farm, Toronto Zoo, Ripley’s Aquarium Little Canada experience and a handful of activities offered within major cultural institutions like ROM Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) and Bata Shoe Museum.

These outings also come with a steep price tag.

For a family of four – consisting of two parents and children aged 7 and 13 – admission to AGO or ROM costs a minimum of $60 excluding feature exhibitions (which can bump up that bill to around $100 at ROM).

If this group wants to visit Little Canada it would cost around $150 and nearly $200 for a trip to zoo. A similar outing to Science Centre cost $75 in 2024.

While this institution still exists today it currently operates out temporary locations one opening Monday at Harbourfront Centre featuring new space exhibit area called Innovation Station Kid Spark interactive exhibits and outdoor space.

This temporary Harbourfront location is about 86 thousand square feet – only a fraction compared to what children had access before since former Ontario Science Centre building was roughly 568 thousand square feet.

WATCH | CBC Museum shuts down:

One last look at CBC Museum in TorontoThe museum shut down Dec.22 will be converted into new studio for kids programming.

Children’s programming is still available public libraries community centres but doesn’t compare those spaces lost built specifically with children mind according Hamer.

For instance temporary children’s science activities are offered Harbourfront Centre AGO also offers Weston Family Learning Centre “but remains separate room segregated from rest museum.” said Hamer.

The ROM which opened back in1914 offers Wonder Works play space for children but too isolated main galleries.

Melissa Smith vice-president public engagement ROM notes initiative part broader approach make museum more accessible.

Smith says that kids heart museum’s exhibition choices illustrated recent shows dedicated bees sharks whales.

Cuts To Education

Asked about infrastructure aimed toward children spokesperson Ontario’s Ministry Tourism Culture Sport pointed camp programs offered ROM AGO well two-week Youth-for-Youth Innovation Program providing hands-on STEM learning opportunities youth aged12to14 from Flemingdon Park Thorncliffe Park.

In email Radio-Canada Ashika Theyyil highlighted temporary pop-up Science Centre installations province promised build newscience centreby2029at Ontario Place currentlyclosedtothepublic.

However province did not answer questions regarding government’s interest developing new dedicated permanent infrastructurechildren.

Meanwhileas haspreviouslyreported provincial funding cuts announced by Toronto District School Board(TDSB)willresultintheclosureofvariousoutdooreducationalprogramsincludingofthe Island Natural Science Schoolon Toronto Islands.

WATCH | TDSB makes more cuts this time outdoor education programs:

TDSB makes more cuts this time outdoor education programs

The Toronto District School Board says made difficult decision close outdoor education programs five centres CBC’s Michelle Song spoke advocates say cuts will hurt low-income students particular.<P Smith from ROM however remains hopeful about access educationalspacesin Torontomuseumsforchildren.<P I’ve been themuseum sector twenty years very long focus almost entirely adult engagement she said.<P Today she feels empowered put spotlight back families children.

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