Panel wants Ontario Place to be year-round park, with a new Forum for concerts

TORONTO – A provincially appointed panel is recommending the return of the Forum for cultural events and concerts as part of a revitalized Ontario Place on Toronto’s waterfront.

The panel, led by former Ontario Progressive Conservative leader John Tory, wants the lakeside park to be active all year round, not just in summer.

Tory says the vast majority of Ontario Place should be an open park, with people living and working in a small portion of the park.

He says there should be easy and open access to a key portion of Toronto’s waterfront.

The cash-strapped Liberal government closed most of Ontario Place earlier this year to help trim a $15-billion deficit, saying it couldn’t afford to keep the park open.

However, it rejected the idea of building a casino on the 39-hectare waterfront site.

The park will be closed until 2017 and the water park, amusement rides and giant white ball that houses the Cinesphere will be torn down.

Annual attendance at Ontario Place dropped to about 300,000 from the 2.5 million who visited when the park opened in 1971.