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The Metro Toronto Convention Centre
An ambitious plan for the rail lands
By the late 1960s, both the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) and the Canadian National Railway (CNR) began relocating their railway maintenance facilities to the outskirts of Toronto. This suddenly left both railways in possession of significant real estate in the heart of the city. Together, the companies formed Metro Developments Limited and began to create a plan to redevelop 187 acres of prime waterfront property.
In 1968, Metro Developments Limited unveiled their ambitious plan, which they called “Metro Centre.” At the time, it was the largest redevelopment project in North America. The company proposed building over five million square feet of office and commercial space. The project also proposed several new public buildings, including a new CBC facility, music venue, convention centre, transit hub and an underground shopping centre. The plan also meant the destruction of prominent heritage buildings, including Union Station.
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The Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Pushback and pressures
Almost from its concept, the Metro Centre plan struggled to become a reality. The federal government put a freeze on spending, which put the plan to create a new CBC building on hold. Some members of city council argued that the plan needed more green space and public housing. The concerns around the project resulted in one of the longest city council debates in Toronto history, lasting five days.
The project also resulted in the creation of a number of advisory boards that had their own concerns about the proposal. For many, the principal issues were the combined loss of public access to the waterfront and the destruction of Union Station. After an intense public relations fight, the railways abandoned the large-scale project in 1975.
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The Metro Toronto Convention Centre
A remnant of a bigger plan
Although Metro Developments Limited did not see their full plan come to life, some of the original ideas were realized. This included the creation of a convention centre. Operated as a crown company of the Government of Ontario, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre (MTCC) cost $77 million to create. Aimed at increasing tourism in the city, the centre featured event spaces, an auditorium, and a CN-operated hotel.
In October 1984, Queen Elizabeth II officially opened the MTCC and it quickly became one of Toronto’s premiere event venues. In 1997, the centre doubled in size with the creation of a second building. Over the years, many important events have occurred at the centre. In 2010, MTCC was the main venue for the G20 Summit, with the nearby John Street roundhouse temporarily converted into a helicopter pad for visiting dignitaries.
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The Metro Toronto Convention Centre
A new Massey Hall
Another building that resulted from the original Metro Centre plan was Roy Thomson Hall. Workers built the new venue on lands previously owned by the Grand Trunk Railway. Nicknamed “New Massey Hall” during its construction, Roy Thomson Hall officially opened in 1982. The hall is named after the Baron of Fleet, Roy Thomson, who was born in Toronto in 1894.
Intended as a new home for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the hall has operated as a music venue for countless artists including Anne Murray, Measha Brueggergosman, and Gordon Lightfoot. Roy Thomson Hall also acted as the venue for many non-music events, including the funeral of politician Jack Layton in 2011.
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The Metro Toronto Convention Centre
Additional resources
Chris Bateman, “How Toronto turned a rail yard into Roy Thomson Hall”, BlogTO, 2013.
Mark Osbaldeston, Chapter 6: Metro Centre in Unbuilt Toronto: a history of the city that might have been, Dundurn Press, 2008.
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