I’ve loved Lake Ontario since I was a kid. Like many others, my parents weren’t born in Canada. We didn’t have a family cottage to escape to during the summers. Our family stayed in Toronto, and the waterfront became our playground. That’s why I’ve dedicated my career to making the waterfront an even better spot for living, working, and playing. I’ve represented this area of Toronto at city hall and in Parliament.
I see Therme – which is creating a public park and beach, along with a water park and spa at Ontario Place – as a fantastic addition to the work I’ve done. This is why I’ve joined their team.
Throughout my career, I’ve led efforts to develop waterfront parks and enhance transit options. I served on Harbourfront Centre’s board and, while involved in politics, helped create new cultural facilities on Queen’s Quay. I also worked to secure funding for Waterfront Toronto, promote naturalization of the Don Valley, and advance plans for the Port Lands.
More importantly, I’ve ensured that we didn’t just protect affordable housing along Lake Ontario; I actively contributed to building new social housing in the area so that Toronto truly has a clean, green waterfront accessible to everyone.
Critics have raised numerous concerns about Therme’s project. They say it’s too big, too exclusive, too foreign, too costly – you name it. It’s unfortunate.
You can only imagine what these protesters would have said about the original Ontario Place. Think about how they would have reacted to dumping contaminated landfill into the lake to create artificial islands surrounded by vast parking lots right at the water’s edge. How would they have felt about a ticketed regional tourist attraction featuring futuristic designs, an upscale yacht club, and fast-food joints?
To be clear, Therme isn’t doing any of this. But that was how the original Ontario Place came together back in the 1970s.
Therme’s new facility is different from its predecessor. The plans include indoor water slides and pools alongside areas where you can treat yourself with massages or saunas. It will be a place for families with kids or hanging out with friends or simply relaxing on your own having fun.
I’ve visited Therme’s locations in Germany and Romania before. It’s not elitist or overly expensive; it’s affordable, well-liked by visitors and fits perfectly with what Ontario Place used to represent.
However, there is one significant change compared to the original design – admission gates are being taken down! You’ll be able to access both the waterfront and a new green space comparable in size to Trinity Bellwoods Park without needing a ticket ever again for picnics or watching sunsets over Lake Ontario.
One thing we can all agree on is that since closing down those pods, open access to our shorelines has been beneficial for everyone involved. The success of Trillium Park should be celebrated further expanded upon as well! Therme looks forward to providing around 16 acres of publicly available green space by the water’s edge while enhancing shoreline habitats with over 3,000 new trees planted next door by Lake Ontario itself-building more parks benefits all Torontonians!
And there’s another essential change coming soon at Ontario Place; unlike previous projects Indigenous rights holders are now partners involved throughout this vision! The Mississaugas of Credit First Nation support Therme-they’re part of designing parks plus various aspects like spaces meant specifically for ceremonies & traditional gatherings-something absent from prior designs!
Ontario Place finally transforms into somewhere inclusive enough for everyone-that’s exactly why I endorse this initiative & joined forces alongside Therme!
Adam Vaughanisa senior adviser & spokespersonforTherme Canada, a former Toronto city councillor & member & of Parliament.
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