Palm trees, pools and waterslides part of massive Ontario Place redevelopment in Toronto
Published July 8, 2025 at 4:16 pm
While not everyone is on board with a high-profile project slated to rejuvenate the long-defunct Ontario Place grounds completely, new images suggest the upcoming spa and waterpark will boast a number of features that will almost certainly pique the interest of locals and tourists alike.
Today, Therme Canada unveiled the updated design for its highly anticipated (and controversial) waterpark and wellness facility at Ontario Place.
The project has been controversial since the Ontario government signed a lease agreement with Therme, an Austria-based luxury spa company, in 2022. The 95-year agreement allows the private company to build a 65,000-square-metre, seven-storey indoor private wellness facility and water park on the West Island of Ontario Place.
However, Therme Canada said that the new vision redefines the relationship between people, place, and wellbeing, offering public waterfront access, Indigenous-informed design, and immersive spaces for family-friendly recreation.
In a news release, Therme ARC–which developed the project in partnership with architecture firm Diamond Schmitt, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, STUDIO tla, and Trophic Design–said the waterpark and wellness centre will include waterslides, thermal bathing, social saunas, pools, restaurants and relaxation areas.
Beyond the waterpark and spa, the project also features 16 acres of publicly accessible parkland, walking trails, beaches, cultural gathering areas, and nature play zones along Toronto’s western waterfront — all of which will be free and open to the public year-round.
While spas are not typically associated with children, the news release indicates that the project, once complete, will pay homage to the family-friendly nature of the one-time amusement park, offering slides, wave pools and food and beverage areas geared towards guests of all ages.
All of it, the release says, will be “set amongst botanical gardens.”
“Ontario Place has always been a place of connection — to land, to water, and to each other. This project is about honouring those connections through design that reflects Indigenous teachings, ecological stewardship, and community use,” said Chief Claire Sault, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, in a statement.
For years, Toronto and GTA residents, along with municipal leaders, have considered what to do with the site of the former amusement park. Opened in 1971, Ontario Place was a theme park built on public land that operated until 2012.
According to Heritage Toronto, the look and feel of Ontario Place — an ambitious project inspired by technology, nature, and modern architecture — was influenced by historically significant buildings, including the Crystal Palace at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair and Montreal’s Expo 67.
While the park included waterslides, rides, a maze and opportunities for paddle boating, it was anchored by the long-standing Cinesphere–the world’s first permanent IMAX theatre. Heritage Toronto says the building stands at 90 feet and can accommodate up to 1,000 people.
Heritage Toronto’s website says that in 1975, Ontario Place won in the “fantasy and delight” category at the American Society of Interior Designers Awards.
Despite being busy in its prime, Heritage Toronto notes that Ontario Place was closed by the province over a decade ago, following years of declining attendance and revenue.
On its website, Therme states that it plans to invest approximately $200 million to restore the island’s shoreline and rehabilitate the land, addressing flooding and creating new habitats for fish and wildlife. The company also announced plans to invest approximately $500 million in the year-round waterpark and spa.
It also said the project will create new jobs during the construction and long-term operational phases.
Multiple media reports indicate the project is slated to open in 2029. According to its website, Therme estimates that the waterpark and spa will welcome up to 2.6 million visitors annually.
“At Therme, we believe that wellbeing should be accessible, joyful, and culturally meaningful,” said Adam Vaughan, senior advisor at Therme Canada (and former MP and Toronto city councillor), in a statement.
“We are honoured to help shape a renewed Ontario Place — one that is open, welcoming, and transformative.”
– With files from Karen Longwell
All renderings courtesy of Therme
