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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