Celebrating Ontario’s 150th Anniversary at Ontario Place

the Ontario Place Cinesphere
Photo: Ontario Place

Province Invites Everyone to Visit Ontario Place in 2017

Ontario Place will be at the centre of the action this summer as the province celebrates its 150th anniversary, with four free festivals to mark the milestone.

People can rediscover Ontario Place with a different themed event every long weekend this summer:

  • Starting today and running until Victoria Day, May 22, the Culinary Ontario festival will highlight the best of food and drink from across the province.
  • During the Canada Day weekend from June 30-July 3, the Heritage Ontario festival will celebrating the heritage, culture and traditions of Ontario through music, interactive exhibits and food.
  • Over the Simcoe Day weekend, August 4-7, an Arts & Music festival will explore all forms of artistic expression with a focus on Ontario and newcomer artists.
  • On Labour Day weekend from September 1-4, the Active Ontario festival will inspire visitors to experience a variety of outdoor sports and healthy lifestyle activities, and offer families ways to get outside and explore what Ontario has to offer.

In addition to these festivals, there are almost 1,000 Ontario150-funded ways to celebrate our sesquicentennial across the province. Highlights include:

  • From May 20 to September 4, Ottawa’s ByWard Market will be transformed into Inspiration Village featuring street performers, musical acts, educational exhibits and a sea of sea containers.
  • Doors Open Ontario is offering expanded programming in cities and towns across the province to showcase Ontario’s architecture and history in honour of the sesquicentennial.
  • Wild Ontario continues at the Butterfly Conservatory at the Niagara Parks Commission, highlighting the province’s incredible biodiversity — featuring everything from a barn owl to an American kestrel and a black widow spider.
  • On June 1, The Roberta Bondar Foundation will launch its travelling exhibition, Light in the Land – The Nature of Canada at Science North, Sudbury. Consisting of fine art photographs by Dr. Roberta Bondar, the exhibition was created specifically in honour of the 25th anniversary of her flight into space.
  • SESQUI launches its Ontario-exclusive community tour at Toronto’s Regent Park, June 21 to 25, before travelling around the province, and will offer audiences of all ages a true 360° immersive experience through the 20-minute film HORIZON, which showcases Canada’s awe-inspiring landscapes, diversity of perspectives and artistic talents.
  • Luminato runs June 14 to 25 in Toronto and features an Ontario150-funded opening night tribute to the immeasurable power, passion, beauty and resilience of Indigenous women through music and dance in David Pecaut Square.

For more information about how the province is celebrating this anniversary, visit the Ontario150 website and try the new interactive map to see what is happening in communities across Ontario.

Investing in programs, infrastructure and events for Ontario’s 150th anniversary is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.

Quick Facts

  • The new Urban Park and William G. Davis Trail at Ontario Place will open in June 2017.
  • Ontario is recognizing the historical significance of 2017 with Ontario150, a year-long commemoration that honours Ontario’s past, showcases the present and inspires future generations.
  • In addition to Ontario Place, many of Ontario’s agencies and attractions, such as the Royal Ontario Museum, Science North, and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection, are hosting Ontario150 events and offering customized programming this year.
  • In celebration of Ontario’s 150th anniversary, the province has released a new recording of A Place to Stand (Ontario Song), the province’s unofficial anthem. English, French, and bilingual versions of the song are available, as well as lyrics, sheet music and choral arrangements.
  • Every year, Ontario’s festivals and events attract tourists, support tens of thousands of jobs and generate millions of dollars in revenue.

Additional Resources

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