Chants of “break the lease” and “stop the spa” rang out on Toronto’s waterfront Wednesday morning as demonstrators gathered to protest the ongoing Ontario Place redevelopment.
The protest, organized by advocacy group Ontario Place for All, comes less than a month after hundreds of mature trees were cut down at Ontario Place’s West Island to make way for the construction of a private spa and waterpark. Video of the aftermath posted to social media showed birds circling, appearing to look for places to land, above the felled trees.
The removal of West Island’s trees was top of mind for protesters, including MPP Chris Glover, who called the deforestation “shameful.”
Glover said 190 bird species called the West Island home, as well as foxes, minks and beavers.
“It was a little wildlife sanctuary in the middle of downtown Toronto and they’ve completely destroyed it and displaced all those animals,” Glover told TorontoToday.
In his view, the deforestation of West Island will “lead to animal deaths” because there aren’t many places for the displaced animals to go within the city.
“There’s only so much habitat, and when you destroy this little pocket of wilderness in the downtown, there aren’t a lot of options left,” he said.
Distressed birds circling the forest destruction at Ontario Place @ONPlace4All pic.twitter.com/KwpXs4xaY5
— jonclement (@jonclement) October 3, 2024
A protester named Colin, who asked that TorontoToday only use his first name, said he previously frequented the West Island before public access was cut off for the redevelopment.
“Lots of swimming, lots of playing music, lots of hanging out with friends – we did everything there,” he said. “It was a really beautiful space and there really isn’t much of that on our waterfront anymore.”
Colin said he lives near Ontario Place and he doesn’t hear “nearly as many” birds in the area since the trees were removed.
“The day after it was clear cut, you could see all the hawks that were trying to find every little post they could clamber on to,” he said. “They’ll have to migrate somewhere else.”
An Austrian company, Therme, has been granted a 95-year lease to build and operate a mega-spa at Ontario Place as part of the site’s redevelopment. The renovation will also include a Live Nation concert venue and a newly built Ontario Science Centre.
About one third of Ontario Place, 50 acres of 155 acres total, will remain public after the redevelopment. Infrastructure Ontario chief executive Michael Lindsay told reporters recently the trees removed from West Island will eventually be replaced.
Protesters, on the other hand, want the whole site to remain public. They’re calling for the redevelopment to be halted and for the 95-year lease to Therme broken.
“Our waterfront should be public for all to access and enjoy,” said Ontario Place for All Chair Norm di Pasquale, noting that Ontario Place is meant to be a “backyard for all Ontarians.”
“Nothing about this Austrian mega-spa celebrates and reflects Ontarians,” Pasquale said. “It’s still not too late; tear up the lease and let Ontarians have a say in the future of Ontario Place.”
The protesters were gathered outside the Toronto Region Board of Trade on Queens Quay East as the business network hosted an event called “The 10 KM Conversation: Launching the Next Phase of Toronto’s Waterfront.” Protesters chanted at event goers as they entered the building.
The event highlighted the board of trade’s recent report, which cast a favourable eye on the Ontario Place redevelopment, saying it will soon “become one of Canada’s leading lifestyle destinations.”
Pasquale said he “fundamentally disagrees” with the report and called on the Toronto Board of Trade to start “prioritizing Toronto.”
