Ontario Science Centre
The Ontario Science Centre is a provincial Crown agency delivering interactive science education to Ontario families, K-12 schools, and community groups via satellite venues, pop-ups, traveling exhibitions, and digital programming, with a new $1B permanent facility under construction at Ontario Place for 2029.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersToronto, Canada
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Ontario Science Centre does
Ontario Science Centre (legally the Centennial Centre of Science and Technology) is a provincial Crown agency of the Government of Ontario, operating under the Ministry of Infrastructure since 1969. The institution delivers informal science education through interactive exhibits, OMNIMAX/IMAX film programming, school field trips, drop-off programs (Saturday Science, Kids Night Out, Winter Break Camps), and community events. Primary audiences are families with children, K-12 schools and educators, and culturally diverse community groups across Ontario; secondary audiences include international museums licensing the Centre's traveling exhibitions and corporate sponsors seeking brand association with science and inclusion programming.
The core product platform is a distributed portfolio of interactive science experiences rather than a single physical site. Following the June 2024 closure of the original Don Mills building due to structural deterioration, operations shifted to two satellite locations — CF Sherway Gardens (exhibitions including Circus! Science Under the Big Top, Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO Bricks, Survival, Earth Matters) and Harbourfront Centre (KidSpark for children under 10) — supplemented by pop-up events, traveling exhibitions, virtual programming (WattNext, Discover the Northern Lights, livestream learning), and DIY at-home activities. The technology layer is primarily physical interactive hardware (hands-on exhibits, OMNIMAX dome theatre, Innovation Station building activities) augmented by standard web/digital content distribution; there is no disclosed AI, ML, or proprietary software platform. The product roadmap centers on the new permanent facility at Ontario Place, with construction underway and completion targeted for 2029.
The revenue model is hybrid and government-anchored. The largest stream is the provincial operating appropriation from the Ministry of Infrastructure, supplemented by a $1 billion capital commitment for the Ontario Place rebuild. Earned revenue is diversified across admissions ($15 per person, free for children under 2 and for sponsored community events), retail merchandise, group visits and birthday parties, donations, corporate sponsorships (TELUS, OPG, Imperial, Royal Canin, CooperVision), and exhibit sales/rentals to other museums (Circus! alone has been featured at 20+ institutions globally). Pricing is unit-based for consumer admissions and sponsorship-negotiated for corporate partnerships, with free community events subsidized by sponsors. GTM is event-driven and community-led, relying on venue partnerships (CF Sherway Gardens, Harbourfront Centre, Evergreen Brick Works, Aga Khan Museum) and a multi-channel marketing mix spanning email, organic social, content/SEO, PR, and co-marketing with sponsors.
Ontario Science Centre firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ontario Science Centre
- Legal name
- The Centennial Centre of Science and Technology
- Website
- https://ontariosciencecentre.ca
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- The Ontario Science Centre is a provincial Crown agency delivering interactive science education to Ontario families, K-12 schools, and community groups via satellite venues, pop-ups, traveling exhibitions, and digital programming, with a new $1B permanent facility under construction at Ontario Place for 2029.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ontario Science Centre industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Science Museum / Informal Science Education
- NAICS
- Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (7121), Museums (71211), Museums (712110)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Science & Technology Museums (THAJADAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs) (EDAMABAA), Science Camps & Field Programs (Nature, Space, Marine, Geology) (EDAMABAB)
Keywords
Where Ontario Science Centre is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Toronto
- HQ country
- Canada
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Ontario Science Centre business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Government Funding: As an agency of the Government of Ontario under the Ministry of Infrastructure, the Science Centre receives provincial government funding for operations.
- Admission Fees: Revenue from ticket sales for Ontario Science Centre Experiences at satellite locations. General admission is $15 per person with free entry for children ages 2 and under.
- Donations and Fundraising: The Science Centre accepts donations through its website and has fundraising campaigns to support programs and operations.
- Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors such as TELUS sponsor specific events and programs including Pride in STEM and KidSpark. Sponsors receive brand visibility and association with community events.
- Retail Sales: Sale of science-themed merchandise including T-shirts, lab coats, science kits, and Celestial Buddies at retail kiosks at partner locations.
- Group Visits and Camps: Revenue from organized school group visits, birthday parties, and drop-off kids programs including Winter Break Camps and Saturday Science.
- Exhibit Sales and Rentals: The Science Centre rents and sells traveling exhibitions internationally, including developed exhibitions like Circus! Science Under the Big Top and Illusuak Cultural Centre.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Ontario Science Centre Experiences General Admission |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free Community Events |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Group/Specialty Programs |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Teacher Free Admission |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels9 records
Ontario Science Centre product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Ontario Science Centre delivers informal science education through interactive exhibitions, hands-on learning experiences, OMNIMAX dome films, school field trips, and community events. Following the 2024 closure of its Don Mills building, it serves audiences through satellite locations (CF Sherway Gardens, Harbourfront Centre), pop-ups, digital programming, and traveling exhibitions while constructing a new permanent home at Ontario Place.
Product overview
The Ontario Science Centre operates as a science museum and educational organization offering a diverse portfolio of interactive exhibits, educational programs, and community events. The organization functions through satellite locations (Ontario Science Centre Experiences at CF Sherway Gardens and KidSpark at Harbourfront Centre), mobile pop-up experiences, virtual programming, and will eventually relocate to a new permanent facility at Ontario Place. Core products include interactive exhibitions (Circus! Science, Survival, Earth Matters, Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO Bricks), educational programs (DNA Fingerprinting, Livestream Learning, Science School, Teacher Resources), and community engagement initiatives (3 Communities 3 Events Series, Pride in STEM, Indigenous Celebration). The organization also provides at-home learning through DIY Science Fun, WattNext energy education, and Discover the Northern Lights content. The portfolio operates on a platform-plus-modules architecture with the satellite experience locations serving as the primary delivery channels alongside virtual and mobile offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ontario Science Centre Experiences at CF Sherway Gardens Ticketed satellite museum experience at CF Sherway Gardens featuring multiple interactive science exhibitions, hands-on activities, and educational programming for families and children.
- KidSpark at Harbourfront Centre Ticketed interactive learn-through-play space for children ages 10 and under featuring themed areas including a pretend supermarket, veterinary clinic, fishing boat, and a sponsor-supported The Pond area (OPG).
- OMNIMAX Theatre State-of-the-art giant screen OMNIMAX dome theatre showing immersive documentary films about rainforests, oceans, and space.
- Circus! Science Under the Big Top Interactive exhibition exploring the science behind circus acts including tightrope walking, plate spinning, and sword swallowing, developed and built by the Ontario Science Centre and available as a traveling exhibition.
- Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO Bricks Exhibition featuring 20 LEGO skyscraper models from around the world (including CN Tower and Empire State Building) with hands-on construction areas.
- Survival: The Exhibition Interactive exhibition where visitors investigate, collaborate, problem-solve, play, build, and climb to become survival experts testing instincts and preparing for the unexpected.
- Earth Matters Environmental exhibition exploring how everything in nature is linked, showcasing ecosystems and teaching how small actions make big impacts on the environment.
- Dream Machines by Rowland Emett Collection of whimsical kinetic sculptures by inventor Rowland Emett, including the 9-metre-long Tea Train and Featherstone Kite Flying Machine.
- School Field Trips Guided educational visits for K-12 school groups with hands-on science activities, curriculum-aligned experiences, and booking system for organized group visits.
- DNA Fingerprinting Program Educational program for schools exploring genetics and DNA analysis techniques, delivered as part of the curriculum-aligned school programming.
- Livestream Learning Virtual educational programming streamed to schools and remote learners, enabling offsite curriculum-aligned science experiences for K-12 classrooms.
- Science School Extended educational programs for K-12 students offering hands-on, multi-session science experiences.
- Exhibit Sales & Rentals B2B service for science centres, museums, and cultural institutions worldwide to license, rent, or purchase original traveling exhibitions developed by the Ontario Science Centre, with optional consulting.
Quantifiable outcome
- Millions of visitors served annually before closure
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Ontario Science Centre
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Ontario Science Centre technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Ontario Science Centre partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Ontario Science PartnerscoreConsortium awarded $1 billion contract by Ford government to design and build the new Ontario Science Centre at Ontario Place. The partnership represents an unprecedented investment in the Science Centre's future permanent home.
- TELUScoreTELUS is a presenting sponsor for Pride in STEM events and supporting sponsor for KidSpark at Harbourfront Centre. The partnership includes significant financial support enabling free community events celebrating diverse communities through the 3 Communities, 3 Events series. TELUS volunteers participate actively in events.
- Ontario Power Generation (OPG)coreOPG is The Pond's sponsor at KidSpark at Harbourfront Centre and co-developer of the WattNext educational platform about Ontario's energy future. The partnership combines science education with energy sector expertise.
- Ontario Tech UniversityminorCo-developer of the WattNext digital platform along with OPG and the Ontario Science Centre, focusing on electricity science and clean energy careers.
- CF Sherway Gardens / Cadillac FairviewcoreCadillac Fairview hosts Ontario Science Centre satellite exhibitions at CF Sherway Gardens mall, providing space for interactive science experiences that drive foot traffic and community engagement.
- Harbourfront CentrecoreHarbourfront Centre hosts KidSpark interactive play space and other Science Centre programming at its waterfront campus, integrating science experiences into Toronto's arts and culture district.
- Deerhurst ResortminorSupporting sponsor of Northern Lights content and programming. Deerhurst Resort hosts Northern Lights viewing events with Ontario Science Centre experts, combining hospitality with science education.
- Royal Canin CanadaminorVeterinary Clinic Sponsor at KidSpark at Harbourfront Centre, supporting the pretend veterinary clinic themed area at the interactive play space.
- ImperialminorSponsor of free teacher admission program at Ontario Science Centre Experiences from July 1 to September 1, enabling educators to access science programming at no cost.
- CooperVisionminorSponsor of Survival: The Exhibition and Earth Matters exhibitions at CF Sherway Gardens, supporting hands-on science experiences for visitors.
- Museums of History NSWminorProducing organization of Towers of Tomorrow with LEGO Bricks traveling exhibition, toured internationally by Flying Fish and hosted at CF Sherway Gardens.
- Imagine (exhibition producer)minorProducer of Survival: The Exhibition and Earth Matters traveling exhibitions featuring at CF Sherway Gardens satellite location.
- Scitech (Australia)minorCreator of Earth Matters exhibition produced by Imagine, bringing environmental science content from Perth, Australia to Canadian audiences.
- Evergreen Brick WorksminorVenue partner hosting Indigenous Celebration 2026 event at Evergreen Brick Works, a Toronto environmental and community centre.
- Canadian Space AgencyminorCollaborative partner for To the Moon and Back event featuring CSA Astronaut Jeremy Hansen, bringing space science and Artemis mission information to Ontario audiences.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Ontario Science Centre competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Science World British Columbia: Vancouver-based science centre operating a flagship dome theatre (TELUS World of Science) with permanent and traveling interactive exhibits, school programs, and similar public-facing science education mission to OSC. Comparable non-profit science centre model with government and sponsorship funding.
- Discovery Centre (Halifax): Atlantic Canada's largest science centre with interactive exhibits, dome theatre, and school programming. Comparable not-for-profit science centre model serving family and education audiences in a Canadian urban market.
- Montreal Science Centre (Centre des sciences de Montréal): Montreal's science centre featuring interactive exhibits, IMAX theatre, and educational programming. A direct Canadian peer serving a similar Francophone/anglophone audience with comparable hands-on STEM offerings and traveling exhibitions.
- TELUS World of Science - Edmonton: Edmonton's science centre featuring IMAX theatre, interactive exhibits, and educational programming. Operates on a similar not-for-profit model with corporate naming sponsor (TELUS), paralleling OSC's TELUS partnership and offering directly comparable science centre experiences.
- TELUS Spark (Calgary): Calgary's science centre with interactive exhibits, IMAX dome theatre, school programs, and traveling exhibitions. Highly comparable operating model — a Canadian science centre with strong brand and corporate sponsor backing competing for similar family and school audiences.
Regional players
- Pacific Science Center: Seattle-based science centre with IMAX theatres, permanent interactive exhibits, and educational programming. Operates a comparable hands-on science museum model in a different North American market, providing relevant peer benchmarks for programming and visitor engagement.
Broad incumbents
- Science Museum (London): One of the world's leading science museums with extensive permanent galleries, IMAX cinema, school programs, and traveling exhibitions. Provides international benchmark for science centre programming, exhibit design, and educational content at scale.
- California Academy of Sciences: San Francisco's combined natural history museum, aquarium, and planetarium. While broader in scope than OSC, it operates with a similar mission of public science education, immersive experiences, and school programming, providing benchmark for science-focused institutional operations.
- Exploratorium: San Francisco's premier hands-on science museum with world-renowned interactive exhibits, professional development, and educational programming. Larger and broader portfolio than OSC, but directly comparable in interactive science education mission and methodology.
Emerging players
- Questacon: Australia's National Science and Technology Centre in Canberra, operated by the Australian government. Provides direct comparison to OSC's Crown agency model and shares OSC's traveling exhibition distribution pathway (Scitech partnership traces to Questacon's network).
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks4 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ontario Science Centre social profiles
Digital presenceOntario Science Centre financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ontario Science Centre leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Ontario Science Centre funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
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Ontario Science Centre M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
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Frequently asked questions about Ontario Science Centre
What does Ontario Science Centre do?
The Ontario Science Centre delivers informal science education through interactive exhibitions, hands-on learning experiences, OMNIMAX dome films, school field trips, and community events. Following the 2024 closure of its Don Mills building, it serves audiences through satellite locations (CF Sherway Gardens, Harbourfront Centre), pop-ups, digital programming, and traveling exhibitions while constructing a new permanent home at Ontario Place.
Is Ontario Science Centre a public or private company?
Ontario Science Centre is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Ontario Science Centre founded?
Ontario Science Centre was founded in 1969. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Ontario Science Centre based?
Ontario Science Centre is headquartered in Toronto, Canada, in the North America region.
How does Ontario Science Centre make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Government Funding is the primary driver. The others are admission Fees, donations and Fundraising, sponsorships, retail Sales, group Visits and Camps and exhibit Sales and Rentals.
Who are Ontario Science Centre's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Science World British Columbia, Discovery Centre (Halifax), Montreal Science Centre (Centre des sciences de Montréal), TELUS World of Science - Edmonton and TELUS Spark (Calgary). Pacific Science Center is listed as a regional player. Broad incumbents are Science Museum (London), California Academy of Sciences and Exploratorium. Questacon is listed as an emerging player.
Does Ontario Science Centre have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ontario Science Centre.
What industry is Ontario Science Centre in?
Ontario Science Centre's product category is Science Museum / Informal Science Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJADAD, Science & Technology Museums, with a secondary code of EDAMABAA, Hands-on Science Exploration & Experiments (Lab Kits, Science Clubs). Its NAICS code is 7121 and its SIC code is 7830.