Dear City of Toronto and Toronto Region Conservation Authority,
I have recently noticed that there is one of the largest, one of the healthiest, one of the most intact and undisturbed wetlands and forest area near the former Ontario Science Centre and in E.T. Seton Park. It would add alarming insult to begrieved injury, if in addition to removing access to scientific educational material and exponentially building up tall condo buildings in an area not designed for such massive expanded capacity that because of poor planning this wetland area became far more polluted with litter because of an unanticipated lack of planning. I am hoping that there will be more protections around the pond that enable people to clearly see the beautiful open water space and the wildlife within as well as improvements to the path and more maintenance. This special space should be deeply appreciated and protected not distinctly befouled with garbage and litter from the new 50 tall condominium buildings in the immediate radius and area.
It seems that the only current maintenance to any existing paths there is conducted by trail cyclists. I have also heard significant concern from numerous local residents I have spoken to about the massive influx of condo towers whose orchestrators have not seemed to mention notable or reassuring planning. So far this year, I have observed barn swallows, kingfishers, wood ducks and black-crowned night herons at this location. These are wetland-dependant species and species as well as fish-eating species that thrive on healthy aquatic environments. Though to the City of Toronto and TRCA’s credit I have come to understand that a dam was recently constructed here to help beneficial water levels in the wetland. Would you please be able to tell me what the plan to protect and ensure a higher environmental quality for one of the last remaining large wetlands in northern Toronto regarding litter and the impacts of the very many new surrounding condo buildings?
Updates:
October 16, 2026
Because there had been no response in over a week about if there is a plan to protect the large wetland and pond by the historic Science Center – I asked when I might expect to be able to review that “plan”.
October 21, 2026
TRCA has responded and, to paraphrase, said that at this site original work to restore the wetlands occurred in the 1990s through a collaborative partnership with the City of Toronto, Ontario Science Centre, Ducks Unlimited Canada and TRCA. It was explained that watershed and wetland restoration project work was completed at this E.T. Seton Park site in 2024. Also, if any development is to occur nearby the TRCA requires that the watershed and hydrological functions of the wetland areas remain intact.
With respect to potential of future impacts on this wetland site immediately next to the historic Ontario Science Center, this relates to the City of Toronto official plan framework so a City of Toronto project manager will soon further reply.