Toronto residents protested the development of a private spa and a Science Centre on West on Sept. 23.
Austrian spa developer Therme Canada is proposing to clear cut parts of the island park and build the spa using $650 million in public money.
Tim Maguire, advocate for Labour and Employment Rights at Broader Social Justice, said he’s disappointed that the development is claiming the public money to turn a public space into a private space.
The design of the spa will take up to 50 per cent of West Island and Therme will operate the facility for 95 years in a deal kept private with the provincial government.
Advocacy group Ontario Place for All said the “internationally recognized landscape” will be redesigned to accommodate a 13-storey glass spa facility.
The other design will be a water park and other activities for the public.
Advocates for the protection of the site have been waging a public battle to save the site. The 62.5-hectare site was announced in 1968 by then John Robarts Progressive Conservative government and completed in 1971 by the Progressive Conservative government of Bill Davis.
“We shall utilize the natural setting of the waterfront, modern structural designs, and hope to create the mood of gaiety and openness which helped make so popular the Ontario Pavilion at Expo ’67,” Robarts said when he announced the attraction.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow recently offered to swap the Better Living Pavilion at nearby Exhibition Place to protect Ontario Place.
Opponents to the plan are concerned about how it would affect wildlife on West Island. One of the questions the residents have is what will happen to the birds and the wild animals there once they start the new development.
Katrina Cziner said she’s concerned about the wildlife.
“I think what Ford is doing is dangerous and I don’t think he is thinking about the creatures or the birds or anything here and only thinking about money,” Cziner said.
With this in mind, Maguire said there are many other things that are necessary to develop at the park other than a private spa.
“There are so many other priorities right now like housing, the cost of living in general and it does not make sense to do this,” Maguire said.
Development will happen with the removal a Japanese monument . Ford has not made a decision yet but with the protest and the emails being sent, Toronto residents really hope this can be stopped and save West Island.