Therme Group owns and manages locations in Europe that welcome millions of families every year, with plans underway to bring the Therme concept to cities all over the world.

At its core, Therme Group is about the idea that people from all walks of life can gather together, immersed in water, to feel renewed, reconnected and reunited.

We have some successful ingredients from our other locations - indoor and outdoor pools, waterslides, restaurants, and natural spaces to relax – but the solution that’s right for Ontario Place will ultimately be a product of collaboration with the people who are going visit -- people from across Ontario. And admission will be far more affordable for a family or group than most every other attraction or event currently available in the city.

It’s our hope to build a place by the lake that brings everyone joy, and helps build a deeper sense of community and togetherness.

Outdoors, we’re planning to create a new and improved public park - even bigger than Trillium Park - with areas for people to walk, run, bike, and swim. This new green space will be part of the beautiful, continuous trail that runs across Toronto’s waterfront. The outdoor area will be a huge draw for families and people across Ontario, and tourists to Toronto, who will be able to reach this destination more easily when it’s connected with the city’s existing transit network.

Our commitment to local arts and community programming will also make this a showcase for the province, with something for everyone to enjoy, just as it was when it opened over 50 years ago.

We were selected for this opportunity by the Government of Ontario after an international competition for proposals that delivered on the Province’s vision for Ontario Place. Toronto is a world-class, diverse city whose waterfront is undergoing an astonishing transformation, especially at Ontario Place, the welcoming heart of this city and province. We are thrilled to have been selected as one element in the revitalization of such a cherished place.

We’re eager to open our doors to families from across the province, and we’re working closely with our partners at the City and Province as we move forward through an approvals and permitting process for this unique site. Once the necessary approvals are in place, we estimate that construction will then take up to 24 months.

We anticipate that construction will create the equivalent of more than 2,200 jobs, and once operational, we will be hiring for more than 800 permanent jobs, in addition to an estimated 800 indirect and induced jobs.

Therme will strengthen Ontario’s economy by acting as a landmark attraction on Toronto’s waterfront, driving spending by tourists and locals alike. A Conference Board of Canada study noted the construction alone would boost Canada’s GDP by over $350+ million CAD. After we open our doors, Therme Canada | Ontario Place will contribute $150 million annually to Canada’s GDP.

Ontario Place is universally recognized as an iconic modernist attraction, and our plans have been designed to closely follow the overarching strategic conservation plan for Ontario Place. We will also create new view corridors and offer a design that respects the land and neighbouring structures. For example, our landscape architects have closely studied the philosophy and aesthetic approach that informed Michael Hough’s original design, and it is deeply reflected in our proposed plans for the vast, 12-acre public space we are creating on the West Island.

In addition, it’s important to recognize that the history of the Ontario Place site began well before 1971. Indigenous peoples have been active along these shores for hundreds of years and we are working to reflect that fact in our final plans for the site.

We also understand the special relationship and memories many have with Ontario Place, and commit ourselves to ensuring it remains an inviting combination of attractions and public parkland, and a welcoming place for all, year-round.

The Government of Ontario committed to protecting the heritage architectural buildings at Ontario Place including the Pods and the Cinesphere. The structures on the West Island are in poor condition, but we’ll be maintaining the heritage value of the site as it’s redeveloped to make Ontario Place a destination for all Ontarians again.

We will have something for everyone to enjoy, all year-round. There will be indoor and outdoor pools, waterslides, restaurants, and lush botanical gardens where visitors can have fun and unwind. The facility will be surrounded by nearly 12 acres of public space, new public beach, and extended biking and walking trails where visitors can picnic, enjoy concerts, and participate in arts and culture programming that will be offered.

As a company, we have a long history of celebrating the arts. That’s why we have invested in the Therme Art program, which supports local creative communities through commissioning art exhibitions and immersive experiences, and hosting and participating in events that explore the role of art and wellbeing in creating more interconnected societies. We’re looking forward to celebrating the diverse and vibrant arts and culture scene that exists in Toronto and across Ontario, and look forward to developing an exciting roster of programming for the site.

In the meantime, we are proud to be working with the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on our Cinematic Cities Initiative, which is a 10-year philanthropic partnership where we will be working together on events to promote the role of art and film in creating more human cities.

Yes. Our destinations will be a welcoming home for all, accessible to everyone and the site at Ontario Place will be fully compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

There will be lots of different ways to get to Therme, whether you’re our neighbour or family visiting from Mississauga or Markham. In the future, Therme will also be accessible via the new Ontario Line subway. Ontario Place will be connected to the city’s existing transportation network. You can reach Therme via Lakeshore Blvd. West, and local bus routes. We’re planning a free shuttle bus to and from the existing Exhibition GO station and adding a free bike share.

A new, 12 acre public park – bigger than Trillium Park – will wrap around Therme, and there will also be a new public beach and extended network of biking and walking trails.

As part of the surrounding landscape, there will be gardens and gathering spaces that visitors can enjoy year-round, which can also host a variety of arts and cultural programs. This green space and the new wetlands that will be created on the site will also help sustain local plant and wildlife habitats.

Therme Group is a leading developer of environmental technologies, deploying innovative solutions in all of our projects. We take our commitment to protecting and improving the environment very seriously, and we are making detailed plans on how best to support this beautiful section of the Lake Ontario shoreline. The West Island shoreline is eroding dangerously – it is beyond its engineered lifespan and with climate change and rising lake levels, the area is prone to flooding. In addition, testing has indicated there are dangerous chemicals in the soil and groundwater that need to be remediated. Our plans will restore, improve and expand the Island to address all these issues.

Therme’s building and surrounding parkland are designed with sustainability in mind. With a focus on environmental efficiency, the building is being designed to meet LEED Platinum standards, using innovative and proprietary technologies and materials, along with a green roof.

State-of-the-art water treatment technology will use the grey water for the green roofs on the building itself, and water used will be treated and re-used. New technologies that weren’t available when Ontario Place was first built will now allow the West Island to be more permeable to water and allow for the introduction of more soil and green space.

The facility will be designed to a LEED Platinum standard and built using the latest green technologies and sustainable materials. All our facilities use state-of-the-art water treatment and air purification technology to reduce both water and energy consumption.

Keep an eye on our project updates page for details on upcoming engagement events and please send us your questions above!

We’ve already been engaging with residents and civic leaders to listen and talk about our plans for the site, but there will be more opportunities for dialogue as the development approvals process advances.

As part of our submission to the Province’s Call for Development, we began early collaboration with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, and engaged other key stakeholders including environmental advocates, arts and culture groups, to hear their perspectives. When Ontarians are surveyed about what they want to see at Ontario Place, over 80% say a concept like Therme is the right choice.