We feel privileged to have grown up here in the late '60's early '70's. There was still so much general optimism for the future, and exciting new things happening everywhere. As a family, we went to Expo '67, thoroughly enjoyed the newly opened McLaughlin Planetarium in 1968, Ontario Science Centre came to be in '69, and of course Ontario Place in 1971. I'll never forget that wonderful time in our lives.
I was an Ontario Place [OP] guide ~ dressed in bright yellow who was hired for the summer to guide excited tourists around OP. Before the official May 1971 opening weekend, myself and two other guides did promotional visits to towns like Hamilton to encourage the locals to drive to this new “hot spot” called Ontario Place. The 6-storey high screen in the Cinesphere to accommodate the newly-developed Imax film system was initially showing “North of Superior”. We, unfortunately, had two people who suffered heart attacks from this amazing front-of-airplane view soaring over our highlands and Canadian Shield terrain. The Imax system used a postcard-size film that flowed in a machine laying down (unlike projectors that usually sit vertically) and was water-cooled. Doing VIP tours before the official opening, this projection room with its valuable and exciting 🇨🇦 film machines were a great drawing card. I had an enjoyable summer job, was an “Ontario Place Girl” in the newspaper as one of photographer Dick Loek’s column, met fabulous other guides (hosts and hostesses as we were called then) … GREAT memories!
Terrific to hear this detail, thanks! Recruitment of opening summer staff was done around Ontario's colleges and universities. The most prestigious jobs, as I recall, were those of the province, but there seemed to be plenty of opportunities for the rest of us to work for private vendors and operators. In Ottawa, I was picked up by a pizza stand run by some industrious Hungarians whose main gig was a popular restaurant in trendy Yorkville.
I loved Ontario place in the 70s when I was a kid. I have great memories of going there on school trips, birthday parties and spending the day at the Ex then crossing the bridge to Ontario Place which was included with admission to the Ex, we would spend the day in children's village playing and eating frozen Cokes. It broke my heart when they closed it, in my opinion they took away the best part of the city.
I was hunting for the original Ontario the Great song from opening day , I was a teen but sang in The choir that made this for opening day ..What a Great memory, Thank You for having it on here.
UPDATE: The province just announced their plans for the redevelopment of Ontario Place. 3 companies will be involved. Live Nation which will redevelop Budweiser Stage, the Écorécréo Group which will create an adventure park complete with climbing walls, zip lines, and ropes courses, and Therme Group that will offer a spa resorts with beach space, waterslides, and gardens and restaurants.
I remember Ontario Place well. We went as kids right through to teenagers and knew the park well. You could get in for free when the EX was on. When we were older we would go over there and go bar hopping. It was a lot of fun and I'd love for kids now to experience Ontario Place as we did, all those years ago.
Hello, my name is Ariana and I am an architecture student at the university of Toronto. As a part of a collective effort to protect and preserve Ontario Place as well as promote the return to it's heyday as an iconic public space along the waterfront and a bustling site for concerts and activities, we are starting an instagram page to collect the stories and memories of Torontonians. We came across your comment and we were wondering if you would allow us to post any stories or personal photos on our instagram page. We are in the beginning phase of collecting stories but you can find the initial phase of our instagram page at @ourplaceontario place on instagram. Thanks so much, Ariana.
I grew up in Parkdale in the 70’s. Loved the Ex and OP. Brought my kids to there maybe 2010 or. 2011. They loved it. The water park was so cool. I still don’t get why they shut it down. It was packed.
My kids, now in their thirties, are so sad that the Ontario Place is gone. They always remember the happy times they spent there. Ontario Place is an very unique playground. Different from Wonderland with rides everwhere, Ontario Place is a place for children to be creative in physical activities in an outdoor environment. It's a beautiful piece of land at the lake for families to enjoy. It's ashamed that this government decided to turn it into casinos which is the exact opposite of Ontario Place. As we all know, gambling hurts individuals, families and society, in many ways. 😪
Wow, another brilliant documentary. Huzzah! Oh how lucky to have to have enjoyed it back in the better than now days. Thanks for bringing such memories to life!!
Really thorough and in depth historical overview of Ontario Place. Good job. My criticism of the park today would still be with the loss of the unique blend of nature and entertainment that the park was loved for. It had a technological, artistic, architectural aesthetic second to none. Within Ontario Place you had the modern in harmony with a beautiful and serene natural lake/landscape. There was a place where you could enjoy both the buildings and waterfront. There was good food, rides, games and great movies. Everything was there and it had at least the feel of a place for the people with no corporate interests. The replacement seems like 1/4 of an offering.
Government corruption saw it take down both the Forum and Children's Village. For what? A lesser venue that was corporate driven, with taxpayers paying for what was left of the grounds. What a complete waste.
Whenever we had family with kids visiting (from Finland), this was one of the places we would take them. Teenage Head, wow. I remember crossing paths with those guys a couple of times. Loved this episode, as I have all of them.
I clearly remember my first visit around 1974. I was astonished even just getting on the bridge. There was nothing like it in the city. So much that was fun but I think the water and the fresh air just created such a sense of nature as a base to all the fun. Magical. A lot of talk about government messing things up but I dont know. Its difficult to keep getting people to come to a place thats been there for awhile. Also, theres just so much to it it must be really expensive to mainain especially when the season is so short. Look at it now theres rust and a need for paint. Can you imagine how much it would cost to reapir those above water pavillions? I cant even imagine how they would give it a coat of paint. The new plan looks ok. Hope it works Im just glad the pods and cinesphere will remain. Not sure why they dont play current movies at the cinesphere. Im still in awe of the pods they still look ahead of their time. I still feel the magic there. I think many do everyone seems really happy when they’re there
In the early days, fireworks were very common. We had a boat at the South Marina and I would run and hide in the bow of the boat because it scared the crap out of me.
I love this place! I really only discovered it this summer. I was intrigued by some of the structures beyond the Trillium Park, so it is great to learn about its rich history!
Well done Morgan! You do our province proud with the work you do to highlight Toronto, my hometown’s, heritage and culture! Funnily enough my profile pic was taken on the lawn of the amphitheater. You’re a gem...keep doing what you’re doing! 🙏🏻
Wow I live less than a 30 minute walk from there and did not even know this new park area existed. I have walked by Ontario Place hundreds of times in the past few years and just saw what I thought was an abandoned run down rusting shell of its former glory. I will definitely visit the park if the weather ever warms up, and hope to see Ontario Place reinvent itself.
Wow. Memories. The Forum was one of Canada's best venues. It was designed only for the inside seats. First opening, people ran and sat on the grass and security told them they couldn't sit there. The venue instantly realized they quadrupled their capacity and it was allowed (4:39). The acts that played here were big tickets. We had a sailboat in the South Marina, behind the blue boat at 4:51. That parking lot, was the private parking for the marina. Huge memories, still, in early 2021. Government ruined it completely.
Hello, my name is Ariana and I am an architecture student at the university of Toronto. As a part of a collective effort to protect and preserve Ontario Place as well as promote the return to it's heyday as an iconic public space along the waterfront and a bustling site for concerts and activities, we are starting an instagram page to collect the stories and memories of Torontonians. We came across your comment and we were wondering if you would allow us to post any stories or personal photos on our instagram page. We are in the beginning phase of collecting stories but you can find the initial phase of our instagram page at @ourplaceontario place on instagram. Thanks so much, Ariana.
Crass commercialism destroyed Ontario Place . Imagine a revolving stage in 1971 . Was ahead of it's time. The Forum whereby most could afford . Big Band Fridays . I was not from the big band era , but gravitated to decent music . Born 1954 . The spirit of Ontario Place was destroyed for crass commercialism .
I was at the Alice Cooper riot at the CNE. Local band Zon opened. The last song they played before the riot started was "Hocus Pocus" (originally by Focus).
Spent many a summers day there as a kid in the 70s it also one of the places our classes would go as the last field trip of the school year in the middle of June before the last day of school.
i wish i had a chance to go to ontario place,...looks epic, but also, had to say this, sorry to break the mood but, that guy looks lie jacksepticeye....
Devil Rob Fort eliminated historical Ontario Place . It’s income for Toronto income only on seasonal and fun for family children’s after handwork and pay heavy tax .
Theyve tried putting on deafening concerts now at ontario place at echo beach its so annoying. No consideration by the city to the ppl living by there. There was never any complaints about the budweiser soundstage concerts only echo beach. Ontario place is going to fail again with such poor leadership
This video depicts Ontario Place as being closed quite some time ago . Under whose authority was this move made ? Under what criteria was this done . But at the same time claiming that improvements were made and that it's open . This subject is going back and forth like the weather . Personally I find this moderately suspicious . Is the damned place open or closed ? ! ? ! ? ! ? ! What the hell is the story here ? ! ? ! ? ! ? !
The transformation of Ontario Place will include three new major attractions: Therme Group is building Therme Canada | Ontario Place, a family-friendly, all-season destination offering something for all ages, including pools, waterslides, botanical spaces to relax, as well as sports performance and recovery services. Outside, people will enjoy more than eight acres of free, publicly accessible gathering spaces, parkland, gardens and beaches. Live Nation is redeveloping the existing amphitheatre into a modern, year-round indoor-outdoor live music and performance venue that will attract world-class artists and events. Protecting the iconic amphitheatre lawns, the new venue will have an expanded capacity of 20,000 in the summer and close to 9,000 in the winter, offering a unique indoor-outdoor experience with operable exterior walls to accommodate events, rain or shine. Écorécréo Group is building an affordable, all-season adventure park for all ages. This new, environmentally friendly attraction will include aerial obstacle courses, net-based aerial adventures, ziplines, climbing walls, escape rooms and many other activities. Écorécréo Group will also operate Segway, quad-cycle, canoe and kayak rentals at the site.
Man..I miss those warm summer night concerts at the Forum. It seemed like yesterday that I took a date to see Roberta Flack. Ahhhhh….great days.❤️
We feel privileged to have grown up here in the late '60's early '70's. There was still so much general optimism for the future, and exciting new things happening everywhere.
As a family, we went to Expo '67, thoroughly enjoyed the newly opened McLaughlin Planetarium in 1968, Ontario Science Centre came to be in '69, and of course Ontario Place in 1971. I'll never forget that wonderful time in our lives.
I was an Ontario Place [OP] guide ~ dressed in bright yellow who was hired for the summer to guide excited tourists around OP. Before the official May 1971 opening weekend, myself and two other guides did promotional visits to towns like Hamilton to encourage the locals to drive to this new “hot spot” called Ontario Place. The 6-storey high screen in the Cinesphere to accommodate the newly-developed Imax film system was initially showing “North of Superior”. We, unfortunately, had two people who suffered heart attacks from this amazing front-of-airplane view soaring over our highlands and Canadian Shield terrain. The Imax system used a postcard-size film that flowed in a machine laying down (unlike projectors that usually sit vertically) and was water-cooled. Doing VIP tours before the official opening, this projection room with its valuable and exciting 🇨🇦 film machines were a great drawing card. I had an enjoyable summer job, was an “Ontario Place Girl” in the newspaper as one of photographer Dick Loek’s column, met fabulous other guides (hosts and hostesses as we were called then) … GREAT memories!
Terrific to hear this detail, thanks! Recruitment of opening summer staff was done around Ontario's colleges and universities. The most prestigious jobs, as I recall, were those of the province, but there seemed to be plenty of opportunities for the rest of us to work for private vendors and operators. In Ottawa, I was picked up by a pizza stand run by some industrious Hungarians whose main gig was a popular restaurant in trendy Yorkville.
I loved Ontario place in the 70s when I was a kid. I have great memories of going there on school trips, birthday parties and spending the day at the Ex then crossing the bridge to Ontario Place which was included with admission to the Ex, we would spend the day in children's village playing and eating frozen Cokes. It broke my heart when they closed it, in my opinion they took away the best part of the city.
I was hunting for the original Ontario the Great song from opening day , I was a teen but sang in The choir that made this for opening day ..What a Great memory, Thank You for having it on here.
It was a great place for concerts !
Ive been across most of the country and ive loved many places.
But ive always been proud of the fact that im from toronto
The architecture is similar to the George Pompidou art centre in Paris and I am so glad the pods and cinesphere will not be demolished.
The dismantling of the amazing Forum and installing the boring corporate Budweiser Stage was the beginning of the end
Came here as kid. Now I run through it. This definitely helps me appreciate it more.
Cheers from Pennsylvania
UPDATE: The province just announced their plans for the redevelopment of Ontario Place. 3 companies will be involved. Live Nation which will redevelop Budweiser Stage, the Écorécréo Group which will create an adventure park complete with climbing walls, zip lines, and ropes courses, and Therme Group that will offer a spa resorts with beach space, waterslides, and gardens and restaurants.
Gotta love the post 1967 boom that took place all across Canada.
I miss the 90s Ontario place , please bring the water park and rides back, anyone remember mega maze?
My first visit was in the summer of 1990. I went again in the summer of 2004.
Mega maze was fun during grammar school days.
I miss the Ontario Place of the 70's !
That mega maze was like gladiator school in the early 80’s , if blood wasn’t drawn, you weren’t having fun 🤣🤣🤣
Yes the Mega Maze was my favorite I do remember I have video content inside of the maze and silos check out gwar fan for videos of Ontario place
I remember Ontario Place well. We went as kids right through to teenagers and knew the park well. You could get in for free when the EX was on. When we were older we would go over there and go bar hopping. It was a lot of fun and I'd love for kids now to experience Ontario Place as we did, all those years ago.
Hello, my name is Ariana and I am an architecture student at the university of Toronto. As a part of a collective effort to protect and preserve Ontario Place as well as promote the return to it's heyday as an iconic public space along the waterfront and a bustling site for concerts and activities, we are starting an instagram page to collect the stories and memories of Torontonians. We came across your comment and we were wondering if you would allow us to post any stories or personal photos on our instagram page. We are in the beginning phase of collecting stories but you can find the initial phase of our instagram page at @ourplaceontario place on instagram. Thanks so much, Ariana.
i almost lived there as a kid in the 70s, great memories of the place.
I grew up in Parkdale in the 70’s. Loved the Ex and OP. Brought my kids to there maybe 2010 or. 2011. They loved it. The water park was so cool. I still don’t get why they shut it down. It was packed.
On time, and under budget! That is rare.
My kids, now in their thirties, are so sad that the Ontario Place is gone. They always remember the happy times they spent there.
Ontario Place is an very unique playground. Different from Wonderland with rides everwhere, Ontario Place is a place for children to be creative in physical activities in an outdoor environment. It's a beautiful piece of land at the lake for families to enjoy.
It's ashamed that this government decided to turn it into casinos which is the exact opposite of Ontario Place. As we all know, gambling hurts individuals, families and society, in many ways. 😪
Your channel, along with RetroOntario, are the best UA-cam channels!! Thank you for your hard informative work.
✌️❤️🇨🇦
Thanks for subscribing and watching! Make sure to checkout the Old Canada Series account we just started too!
Wow, another brilliant documentary. Huzzah!
Oh how lucky to have to have enjoyed it back in the better than now days. Thanks for bringing such memories to life!!
Many thanks!
Really thorough and in depth historical overview of Ontario Place. Good job.
My criticism of the park today would still be with the loss of the unique blend of nature and entertainment that the park was loved for. It had a technological, artistic, architectural aesthetic second to none. Within Ontario Place you had the modern in harmony with a beautiful and serene natural lake/landscape. There was a place where you could enjoy both the buildings and waterfront. There was good food, rides, games and great movies. Everything was there and it had at least the feel of a place for the people with no corporate interests. The replacement seems like 1/4 of an offering.
Thanks! Make sure to subscribe!
Government corruption saw it take down both the Forum and Children's Village. For what? A lesser venue that was corporate driven, with taxpayers paying for what was left of the grounds. What a complete waste.
Destroyed by commercialism . If I controlled the media , I could promote anything and people would fork out . Sad but true .
@@BeeRich33 Byron Muldoon would have sold it down the U.S. sewer if he were Premier.
I welled up in tears seeing my playground again😢 I want my kiddo to experience it
Whenever we had family with kids visiting (from Finland), this was one of the places we would take them. Teenage Head, wow. I remember crossing paths with those guys a couple of times. Loved this episode, as I have all of them.
I clearly remember my first visit around 1974. I was astonished even just getting on the bridge. There was nothing like it in the city. So much that was fun but I think the water and the fresh air just created such a sense of nature as a base to all the fun. Magical.
A lot of talk about government messing things up but I dont know. Its difficult to keep getting people to come to a place thats been there for awhile. Also, theres just so much to it it must be really expensive to mainain especially when the season is so short. Look at it now theres rust and a need for paint. Can you imagine how much it would cost to reapir those above water pavillions? I cant even imagine how they would give it a coat of paint.
The new plan looks ok. Hope it works Im just glad the pods and cinesphere will remain. Not sure why they dont play current movies at the cinesphere.
Im still in awe of the pods they still look ahead of their time.
I still feel the magic there. I think many do everyone seems really happy when they’re there
Excellent overview of this wonderful place.
Thanks for watching!
Great memories
With the brand new park added onto the waterfront, it still is lovely!
al guz I have visited Ontario place in 1990 and 2004. I hope to go back one day. I saw a lot of commercials on TV back in the day.
Great video, good memories. Anyone remember the Benson & Hedges Symphony of Fire?
Yup! Always fun.
In the early days, fireworks were very common. We had a boat at the South Marina and I would run and hide in the bow of the boat because it scared the crap out of me.
Love the dedication on your channel!
Glad you enjoy it!
It’s a so uniquely designed place. Hope it’ll rebirth soon.
Beautiful spot, fingers crossed!
I love this place! I really only discovered it this summer. I was intrigued by some of the structures beyond the Trillium Park, so it is great to learn about its rich history!
Well done Morgan! You do our province proud with the work you do to highlight Toronto, my hometown’s, heritage and culture! Funnily enough my profile pic was taken on the lawn of the amphitheater. You’re a gem...keep doing what you’re doing! 🙏🏻
Thanks for watching!
🧡
Are you related to Dennis Roy Timbrell the former MMP for Don Mills ?
Ahh, childhood memories.
Wow I live less than a 30 minute walk from there and did not even know this new park area existed. I have walked by Ontario Place hundreds of times in the past few years and just saw what I thought was an abandoned run down rusting shell of its former glory. I will definitely visit the park if the weather ever warms up, and hope to see Ontario Place reinvent itself.
Very worth a visit. Lovely space. Look into the rentable fire pits as well. Very cool stuff!
Wow. Memories. The Forum was one of Canada's best venues. It was designed only for the inside seats. First opening, people ran and sat on the grass and security told them they couldn't sit there. The venue instantly realized they quadrupled their capacity and it was allowed (4:39). The acts that played here were big tickets. We had a sailboat in the South Marina, behind the blue boat at 4:51. That parking lot, was the private parking for the marina. Huge memories, still, in early 2021. Government ruined it completely.
Hello, my name is Ariana and I am an architecture student at the university of Toronto. As a part of a collective effort to protect and preserve Ontario Place as well as promote the return to it's heyday as an iconic public space along the waterfront and a bustling site for concerts and activities, we are starting an instagram page to collect the stories and memories of Torontonians. We came across your comment and we were wondering if you would allow us to post any stories or personal photos on our instagram page. We are in the beginning phase of collecting stories but you can find the initial phase of our instagram page at @ourplaceontario place on instagram. Thanks so much, Ariana.
@@arianafernandez7035 Sorry, just got this. I have few pictures.
Loved this place!
Still has a lovely new park space there along the water
Crass commercialism destroyed Ontario Place . Imagine a revolving stage in 1971 . Was ahead of it's time. The Forum whereby most could afford . Big Band Fridays . I was not from the big band era , but gravitated to decent music . Born 1954 . The spirit of Ontario Place was destroyed for crass commercialism .
I was at the Alice Cooper riot at the CNE. Local band Zon opened. The last song they played before the riot started was "Hocus Pocus" (originally by Focus).
Spent many a summers day there as a kid in the 70s it also one of the places our classes would go as the last field trip of the school year in the middle of June before the last day of school.
When was the children village and water entertainment closed?
For some reason this saddens me my excuse to not go to Ontario Place.
There are only 24 hours in a day. How do you find the time to put together such a deep and fascinating presentation? GREAT WORK!
Thanks! Means a lot!
Awwww..."it's the little things".
AND FUCKING SLAYER !!!!!!!
On-time and under budget, that doesn't happen today.
Ontario Place = Mini Expo 67
Rumor has it says it might come back!
That punch bag forest could be a cruel place for a small 10 yr old . Lol
So what's going on with ontario place last I heard they were planning to make it into a big park 🤔
Does anyone know the name of the three ships?
The 90s was 100% the best era...
I dig your content
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F to pay respects
i wish i had a chance to go to ontario place,...looks epic, but also, had to say this, sorry to break the mood but, that guy looks lie jacksepticeye....
Maybe if they touch it up a bit to kind of be more updated it can be turned back to the ace it once was a little better.
Biggz Was Here. 33.
Devil Rob Fort eliminated historical Ontario Place . It’s income for Toronto income only on seasonal and fun for family children’s after handwork and pay heavy tax .
Back when Toronto was a great place to grow up now I won’t even let my kids visit but hole
you know when someone has never lived in or been to toronto when they make comments like this
@@sebastianjames7423 right lmao
When Ontario Conservatives were progressive Conservatives.
Next phase...condos :(
This will become another Doug and the Sluggz disaster......................
Theyve tried putting on deafening concerts now at ontario place at echo beach its so annoying. No consideration by the city to the ppl living by there. There was never any complaints about the budweiser soundstage concerts only echo beach. Ontario place is going to fail again with such poor leadership
This video depicts Ontario Place as being closed quite some time ago . Under whose authority was this move made ? Under what criteria was this done . But at the same time claiming that improvements were made and that it's open . This subject is going back and forth like the weather . Personally I find this moderately suspicious . Is the damned place open or closed ? ! ? ! ? ! ? ! What the hell is the story here ? ! ? ! ? ! ? !
Ontario Place is partially open and primarily closed. Depends on which areas. Worth making a visit, the new park is great.
The transformation of Ontario Place will include three new major attractions:
Therme Group is building Therme Canada | Ontario Place, a family-friendly, all-season destination offering something for all ages, including pools, waterslides, botanical spaces to relax, as well as sports performance and recovery services. Outside, people will enjoy more than eight acres of free, publicly accessible gathering spaces, parkland, gardens and beaches.
Live Nation is redeveloping the existing amphitheatre into a modern, year-round indoor-outdoor live music and performance venue that will attract world-class artists and events. Protecting the iconic amphitheatre lawns, the new venue will have an expanded capacity of 20,000 in the summer and close to 9,000 in the winter, offering a unique indoor-outdoor experience with operable exterior walls to accommodate events, rain or shine.
Écorécréo Group is building an affordable, all-season adventure park for all ages. This new, environmentally friendly attraction will include aerial obstacle courses, net-based aerial adventures, ziplines, climbing walls, escape rooms and many other activities. Écorécréo Group will also operate Segway, quad-cycle, canoe and kayak rentals at the site.
30mil ha gHeeez
1.2 million visitors to the park last year though. Worth checking out - really great space!
Cheap Expo 67 knockoff.