Former chief will advise on Ontario Place

From the cop shop to the Cinesphere.

The provincial government has tapped former Toronto police chief Mark Saunders to advise on the future of Ontario Place.

Saunders, who retired last year after making history as Toronto’s first Black police chief, will “provide guidance and expert advice” to Premier Doug Ford and Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Minister Lisa MacLeod.

“Mr. Saunders’s intimate knowledge of the diverse communities in Toronto and across Ontario will bring important perspectives to the project, as well as a level of expertise that will help turn our vision for the site into a reality,” MacLeod said Friday.

“Clearly, a modern new Ontario Place will attract local, provincial and international visitors, playing a key role in our post-pandemic recovery while creating unforgettable memories for a new generation,” she said.

“When complete, Ontario Place will regain its iconic status as an integral part of the province’s identity.”

The 38-year police veteran will be paid $700 a day to an annual maximum of $171,500, which would be 245 days of work. It’s a three-year appointment.

MacLeod said the “call for development” process is continuing as the province ponders what to do with the lakefront park that marks its 50th anniversary this year and is home to the iconic Cinesphere, the world’s first Imax cinema. The minister emphasized that the redeveloped Ontario Place will not include condos or a casino and the land will not be sold.

She added that Cinesphere and the pods will be preserved, as will the adjacent Trillium Park and the William G. Davis Trail.

“We will be sharing more exciting news this spring. The 50th anniversary of Ontario Place is the perfect time to provide the people of Ontario with a preview of the tremendous plans for the site’s future.”