Harbourfront Centre, Toronto

Harbourfront Centre is a key cultural facility on Toronto, Ontario's waterfront, situated at 235 Queen's Quay West. Established as a crown corporation in 1972 by the federal government to create a waterfront park, it became a non-profit organization in 1991. Funding comes from corporate sponsors, government grants, individual donors and entrepreneurial activities.

Harbourfront Centre is patrolled by its own in-house security team which works closely with police to ensure the property is properly maintained.

History

The federal government faced mounting criticism from the City of Toronto due to the amount of money being spent for Montreal on both Expo 67 and the 1976 Summer Olympics. Hence, it decided that it would build Harbourfront Centre and the province would build nearby Ontario Place in order to revitalize Toronto's industrial harbour and increase tourism to the city.

The federal government committed to buying 40 hectares of land.

In 1982, Queen's Quay Terminal was remodelled by Zeidler Partnership Architects (the same firm that designed the Toronto Eaton Centre). The project transformed the industrial space into a mixed-use building that included shops, restaurants, offices, and exclusive residential condos (it once was the home for Premier Mike Harris).

Community facilities and children's events

Hosted year round:
* Harbourfront Centre Camps
* Authors at Harbourfront Centre
* Learning for Living - continuing education programme
* School Visits
* The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery
* The Natrel Rink — outdoor skating rink
* Docks and Nautical Centre
* Toronto Music Garden — designed by Yo Yo Ma and Julie Moir Messervy
* York Quay Centre Visual Arts — exhibition space
* Canada Quay at Harbourfront Centre — visual arts centre
* The Craft Studio — studio for artists creating ceramic, glass, metal and textiles
* Bounty Contemporary Canadian Craft Shop
* Artists' Gardens

Wireless Internet access

Free Wi-Fi Internet access is provided by Wireless Toronto.

ee also

*Harbourfront - the neighbourhood surrounding the Centre
*Toronto waterfront
*HTO Park
*Amsterdam Bridge, Toronto

External links

* [http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/ Harbourfront Centre]
* [http://www.readings.org Authors at Harbourfront Centre]