Councillor Matlow Announces $2 Million to Support Ontario's First Burn Victim Care Centre

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TORONTO – Two years after Doug Ford abruptly closed the Ontario Science Centre, Councillors Josh Matlow and Jon Burnside, Save Ontario's Science Centre, and Moriyama Teshima Architects are releasing a report which proposes next steps toward reopening the building based on the outcomes of community consultations.
 
While the Province closed the Ontario Science Centre site on the premise that its roof is irreparably damaged, the roof withstood the largest single-day snowfall in Toronto's history this past winter. The Province's own engineering consultants said the building can be repaired, and the risks of keeping it closed are significant.
 
The report recognizes that the Province will be moving forward with their plan to build a new $1.4 billion OSC at Ontario Place, and instead of relitigating that decision, the report proposes an exciting opportunity to reimagine the site as a new public space dedicated to learning and discovery.
 
"The people of Toronto never accepted that the Science Centre's story was over, and neither did we," said Councillor Josh Matlow. "Residents from Flemingdon Park, Thorncliffe Park, and across the city have now done the work the Province refused to do. They've offered a real vision for this site's future. All the Ford government has to do is come to the table."
 
Participants in the consultation were consistent in their priorities. They want the site to continue to fulfill its mandate as a public centre for scientific education. They want access to the ravine and surrounding green space protected. They want the building's heritage and architectural significance respected. And they want programming that serves the needs of surrounding communities, the City, and the region.
 
The report recommends a process that brings the Province together with the City, the federal government, the TRCA, community stakeholders, and institutional and philanthropic partners to determine the site's future use, governance, and funding.
 
The success of this initiative requires the Province to come to the table in good faith. This report gives them the opportunity to do so, with a positive, community-grounded vision to support.
 
The consultation findings demonstrate that 770 Don Mills Road is a significant public asset, valued for its learning, landscape, architecture, and community. The use of the site may change, but its public purpose should endure.
 
The full report is available at: https://secure.toronto.ca/council/agenda-item.do?item=2026.MM43.73

TORONTO — Councillor Josh Matlow has introduced a motion to the City Council agenda directing the city to finally move forward with an action plan to transform select streets into vibrant, pedestrian spaces for Torontonians to enjoy.

The enormous popularity of street festivals this summer has demonstrated strong public demand for more pedestrian-friendly options. Pedestrian streets deliver significant economic benefits and have been successfully implemented in world class cities like Paris and Copenhagen, and as close to home as Montreal. The Toronto Destination Master Plan, released in April 2026, warns that Toronto is lagging peer cities in walkability and street-level vibrancy, recommending the city expand pedestrianization year-round and invest in vibrant lighting, public art, and event-ready infrastructure. This motion builds on the momentum of the recently approved Church Street pedestrianization pilot, which officially launches today.

City staff have been studying a pedestrianization policy for several years, and a report that was supposed to come in Winter 2025 never did. This motion shifts the focus from more study to action, directing staff to bring forward an implementation plan to roll out pedestrian streets by Summer 2027.

"Many cities around the world, including as close to home as Montreal, already have successful pedestrianized streets. Torontonians have been calling on their city to do the same. These streets make our city more vibrant and fun, and they're a huge draw for tourism that supports local businesses. Reasonable concerns about congestion and safety can be responsibly addressed. It's time to get this done," said Councillor Matlow.

Torontonians have watched with envy as other cities create vibrant pedestrian streets, and they are calling on their city to do the same. That’s why this motion directs staff to create a clear process and action plan for pedestrianization to finally move forward, so that Toronto can open more pedestrian streets by Summer 2027.