Province Continues to Transform Ontario Place into Year-Round Destination with New Skating Rink
Ontario is continuing to transform Ontario Place into a vibrant, year-round waterfront destination with new winter festivities that celebrate the sites and activities of the season.
Eleanor McMahon, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport, and Han Dong, MPP for Trinity Spadina, were at Ontario Place last night to kick off the festivities. From December 8 through March Break, people will get in free at Ontario Place to enjoy winter-themed activities including:
- A Winter Light Exhibit – Every day, a beautiful array of 12 illuminated light exhibits will be on display throughout the West Island of Ontario Place. The exhibit will be lit by fairy lights that cast a warm glow and guide visitors along a path as they explore the West Island.
- Skating – An outdoor synthetic skating rink will be open with family friendly music playing and an outdoor concession stand with snacks and warm beverages.
- Bonfires – To cap off a day of skating and exploring on the weekends, visitors will have a chance to enjoy a bonfire at the Ontario Place fire pit. Located on the north end of Cedar Cove, the fire pit is just steps away from the skating rink.
- Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail – The wonderful new park is open all year-round. The paths are accessible and cleared with lots of room to build snow sculptures!
In addition to the Winter at Ontario Place programming, the iconic Cinesphere theatre is now open, showcasing year-round with regular IMAX® screenings.
Transforming Ontario Place into a vibrant, public, year-round waterfront destination is part of Ontario’s plan to create fairness and opportunity during this period of rapid economic change. The plan includes a higher minimum wage and better working conditions, free tuition for hundreds of thousands of students, easier access to affordable child care, and free prescription drugs for everyone under 25 through the biggest expansion of medicare in a generation.
Quick Facts
- In addition to Winter at Ontario Place, four diverse festivals were held at Ontario Place in the spring and summer to celebrate the province’s 150th anniversary.
- On November 17, 2017, the province issued a request for proposals (RFP) to seek a design consultant for a Celebration Common on the east island of Ontario Place. The RFP is available on MERX and closes on December 21, 2017.
- Ontario Place’s Cinesphere reopened to the public on November 3rd with regular, year-round IMAX screenings.
- The Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail opened in June 2017, welcoming people back to a spectacular piece of Toronto’s waterfront for the first time in over forty years.
Additional Resources
Quotes
“What a great honour to kick-off Winter at Ontario Place and welcome people back to this great public park. The winter festivities offer something for everyone, from a stroll on the newly opened Trillium Park and William G. Davis Trail, to skating, to taking in the beauty of Ontario Place illuminated by fairy lights! The waterfront is more vibrant than ever and I hope everyone will have a chance to enjoy the magic and fun of winter at the lake all season long.”
“2017 has been a great year at Ontario Place, with people enjoying this beautiful destination through the spring, summer and fall. Winter at Ontario Place will showcase the site in yet another season, and I encourage everyone to come down to enjoy many activities – for a skate on the rink, to watch a movie or simply to sip hot chocolate by the bonfire.”
“Winter at Ontario Place is a great way for Ontarians to explore winter on the waterfront. Ontario Place welcomes people to take a stroll through the West Island to experience our beautiful winter setting and enjoy many activities and attractions along the way. We are excited to have Ontario Place be a year-round destination for locals and tourists to enjoy.”
Penny Lipsett
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