The Ontario Science Centre says it has processed refunds for the cancelled summer camp programs following its sudden closure last month, though it may take up to seven days for the refund to be reflected on credit card statements.
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“This camp at an alternate location will be led by our Science Centre camp counsellors and will be packed with fun, hands-on science experiences and activities,” a spokesperson said in an emailed statement to the Star.
Following the sudden closure of the centre on June 21, a statement published to its website said that the team understands the situation will cause inconvenience and disruption.
“We ask for your patience as our teams process this news and focus on supporting the immediate needs of our camp families, schools, and members,” the statement said.
Though the primary facility has closed, the science centre team said they will continue to share more details about interim programming and plans for a temporary facility.
The province’s Ministry of Infrastructure announced on June 21 that the Don Mills site would be immediately closed to the public. The Science Centre’s board voted to close the building after concerns were raised in an engineering report about the aerated concrete used in the roof that could lead to a collapse.
The science centre, which opened in 1969, was already due to be moved to the Ontario Place waterfront redevelopment site for 2028, but the abrupt shutdown has left officials scrambling to find an interim location, which won’t open until January 2026.
The opening of the permanent home for the centre, however, is not as firm, with Ash Milton, press secretary to Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma, telling the Star last week it is set for “as early as 2028.”
“There will be nothing for anybody to visit for 18 months,” said Jason Ash, co-chair of Save Ontario’s Science Centre.
“That’s very different than the, albeit brief, public messaging that they’re looking for a temporary space night now,” he added. “But they don’t have one, and they closed it without having anything prepared. It just speaks to how they seem to operate in general.”
With files from Kristin Rushowy
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