Currently closed Ontario Science Centre could potentially relocate to a facility in Mississauga

Last week, the remainder of staff at the recently closed Ontario Science Centre were laid off with pending news that they may resume work at a new Mississauga location. 

On September 12, it was reported that the Dexterra Group, the cleaning company commissioned by the province to maintain the facility, would be laying off the remaining cleaning staff.

As a result, 28 employees were informed that their contract would be terminated by October 31 via a letter sent to the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/SEFPO) on behalf of the Dexterra Group. 

Martin Fischer, president of Local 549 — the OPSEU division representing the 28 workers — was saddened by the sudden closure of the facility.

However, this layoff process is something that the union anticipated. 

“They’re not looking at the impact that this decision has on staff, they are looking at their bottom line, and that’s what happens right? The contract gets canceled by the Ontario government and all the staff gets let go. They’re cutting their losses as much as they can,” Fischer told INsauga.com. 

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When news broke of these layoffs, OPSEU officials also received word that a potential continuation of the science centre may be slated for a Mississauga facility. 

“I saw that in the initial notice and it was very clear that that is what Dexterra was expressing, so maybe they heard something from the government. I can’t speak for the science centre and I can’t speak for the provincial government, as they haven’t officially announced that yet,” says Fischer. 

If a new location, temporary or otherwise, were to be picked, Fischer noted that it would be an easy move as most of the exhibits within the Ontario Science Centre have already been prepped for travel. 

“A lot of our exhibits are wrapped up on palettes and skids, they can be put on a forklift and put into a trailer at any time. So I think the minute a location is found, things will start to get moved out,” says Fischer. 

INsauga.com contacted the City of Mississauga to inquire about the validity of the information relayed to OPSEU by the Dexterra Group. 

“We have not been informed of any decisions, but of course, Mississauga would welcome the Science Centre in our city,” a representative for the City of Mississauga told INSauga.com via email. 

Fischer further indicated that, despite the fog surrounding a potential relocation, roughly two-thirds of Ontarians would still like the facility to stay as is, supported by information from a survey earlier this month. 

Beyond public sentiment, Fischer is also equally concerned for staff and the viewing public, as the process of travelling to a new location may pose new challenges for those who have become used to the current facility’s waterfront location in downtown Toronto

“Mississauga is hard to reach for a lot of our visitors, and eventually, when people acquire a job, they don’t have to relocate to somewhere they have to commute for too long. However, a lot of our [Local 549’s] people live east, which will make it very difficult for them to reach Mississauga — if that’s the decision that’s going to be made, it will be interesting,” says Fischer. 

At the time of publication, no official word has been relayed by the Dexterra Group, OPSEU or the City of Mississauga on whether a relocation of the Ontario Science Centre to a Mississauga location is a concrete plan moving forward. 

This leaves Fischer and Ontario Science Centre workers under the Local 549 umbrella uncertain for the future, as with no plans past October 31 Fischer further indicates that “It feels like we are all tenants who are getting evicted.”