History of Ontario Place

March 17, 1969

• Construction of Ontario Place begins.

"It should be an exciting place, just as Ontario is an exciting and dynamic province."
–John Robarts, Premier of Ontario, 1970

1970s

• Ontario Place opens on May 22, 1971.
• Children's Village is opened on East Island.

"The vision and scope of Ontario Place gives promise of our vast potential."
–Bill Davis, Premier of Ontario, 1971

1980s

• Concrete silos featuring Northern Ontario wildlife built on West Island.

1990s

• Forum replaced with Molson Amphitheatre (now Budweiser Stage) - raising seating capacity from 8,000 to 16,000.
• Waterpark updated and expanded.

2000 - 2010

• Rogers Chinese Lantern Festival on West Island (2006-2008)
• Summer 2010 – Ontario Place launched "My Ontario Place" pavilion and interactive website to seek public input into new vision for its future in advance of 40th anniversary

2010 - Present

• Province announced plans for Ontario Place transformation. Public consultations allow Ontarians to share their views on the vision for the park and trail – design presented at public meeting
• The waterfront trail is named the William G. Davis Trail in honour of Bill Davis who opened Ontario Place in 1971