When Ontario Place opened in 1971, it was celebrated internationally as an architectural masterpiece.

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It captured our bold, optimistic spirit...

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...and offered abundant landscaped areas, combined with refreshing links to the water.

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Architect Eb Zeidler’s original vision was to create an elegant, unified and

enduring image for this “urban parkland” setting.

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Zeidler’s design connected us

with nature and our highest

hopes for the future.

“We felt there was a need in Ontario for something akin to a spiritual home.”

John Robarts, former Premier of Ontario, speaking on November 3, 1970 at the Ontario Place Countdown Reception

What has happened to Ontario’s “spiritual home”?

Solutions to the wrong questions began to appear in 1980 with the addition of these silos...

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...followed by a frantic downward spiral of de-natured add-ons...

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...until we were left with nothing to nourish our Ontarian spirit.

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Today we see disconnected pieces of boring, generic, high maintenance, overbuilt, carbon-eating habitat...

...instead of the original serene, uplifting urban parkland.

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There’s a way to restore the extraordinary magic of Ontario Place...

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...while changing how people think about their health for the 21st century.

An eye-opening showcase for healthy building techniques…such as reimagining the parking lot.

Celebrating and restoring a heritage site originally created to embody Ontario’s optimism for the future.

Demonstrating advanced urban farming practices...promoting brain health…and calling all ages to action.

This is no time to think small about the

root cause of our deficit dilemma.

Let’s face the fact that lifestyle based ill-health

consumes 40% of Ontario’s annual $50 B health

care budget. To change our destiny, we can make

Ontario Place an internationally recognized

exemplar of active health research and practice—

a “spa for the brain and body” where nature,

creative play, relaxation, physical activity, healthy

social interaction and lifelong learning flow together.

“Take bold action to promote healthier lifestyles...”

-TD Economics’ Top 10 Health Reform Proposals

“Creating a Path to Sustainable Health Care in Ontario”, co-authored by Don Drummond.

sources: Solar panel parking concept by Neville Mars, Urban Farm by Bruno Viganò & Florencia Costaon , iStock brain synapse photo

Instead of mindless, passive amusements

which ultimately lead to boredom,

let’s re-create an Ontario Place that

stimulates the brain.

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The decision to charge admission to public waterfront parkland

was the first in a series of ill-advised choices that drained the life

out of Ontario Place. Numerous studies over the years were built

on self-limiting assumptions. Let’s not use such narrow thinking to

make irreversible decisions that destroy connections with our past

and a healthier vision for our future.

To read a further analysis of these ideas please visit: http://www.farrowpartnership.com/images/stories/Ontario_Place.pdf

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