Ontario Science Centre layoffs in September 2026 eliminated 31 positions, according to the latest count provided by the union representing affected workers, including the centre’s standalone Science Unit. Earlier reports and an initial OPSEU/SEFPO statement put the number at 30, but the union later told CBC News that 27 permanent roles and four contract roles were affected.

The current restructuring affects unionized Ontario Science Centre workers represented by OPSEU/SEFPO Local 549. Entire teams have been affected, including science, business development, security and live exhibits.

If you are one of the unionized employees affected, speak with your union immediately about your rights under the collective agreement and any grievance, redeployment or other process available to you. If you are not represented by a union or are excluded from the bargaining unit and your job is eliminated, don’t sign termination documents or a release before finding out what you are owed.

⚠️ Unionized? You need to challenge a termination or workplace dispute through your union and the grievance process. Our employment law team can’t assist with unionized workplace disputes.

For broader updates on major workforce reductions across the country, see our Layoffs In Canada guide.

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Latest Ontario Science Centre Layoff News

The latest Ontario Science Centre layoffs were announced on September 10, 2026, as part of a major organizational restructuring. The latest union count says 31 jobs are affected — 27 permanent roles and four contract positions.

CEO Paul Kortenaar told employees that some departments would no longer exist in the new organizational structure. Reporting by The Canadian Press identified science, business development, security and live exhibits among the teams affected. OPSEU/SEFPO said the standalone Science Unit is being eliminated.

The Science Centre says the restructuring is intended to prepare the organization for its future operational and programming needs. Kortenaar said functions are being streamlined, consolidated or reconfigured and that new positions requiring different skills will be created, including a research and impact team.

The province says science programming, expertise and exhibits will remain embedded across the organization and that there will be no change to the science programming and learning experiences delivered by the centre. It also says some affected employees will have opportunities for new roles.

For full details on this specific round of cuts, read our report on the September 2026 Ontario Science Centre science department layoffs.

Who Is Affected By The Ontario Science Centre Layoffs?

The September 2026 restructuring affects workers represented by OPSEU/SEFPO Local 549. The union’s initial announcement said the complement of 166 unionized employees would be reduced to 136 and described the change as an 18 per cent cut.

The union also said that, when the cuts were announced, only one affected staff member had been offered alternative permanent employment elsewhere in the Ontario public service.

Because these employees are unionized, their termination, displacement and job-security rights are governed by their collective agreement and must be addressed through their union. The standard non-unionized severance process does not apply in the same way.

Ontario Science Centre Layoff And Workforce History

The September 2026 cuts follow several years of workforce disruption surrounding the closure of the Ontario Science Centre’s former Don Mills location. The events involved different employers and types of workforce reductions, so they should not be treated as one cumulative Ontario Science Centre layoff total.

  • June 2024: More than 50 food-service workers employed by outside contractor Levy Canada were set to lose their jobs following the abrupt closure of the Don Mills site.
  • October 2024: Twenty-eight cleaning employees of Dexterra Group lost their jobs after the Science Centre ended its cleaning-services agreement.
  • February 2026: The Science Centre confirmed that its workforce had fallen from 219 employees at the time of the 2024 closure to 185 full-time staff. It said those departures reflected retirements, attrition and normal workforce movement rather than forced job losses resulting from the building closure.
  • September 2026: The latest restructuring has affected 31 positions, according to the union’s most recent count, and eliminated the standalone Science Unit.

The Ontario Science Centre is currently operating from an interim location at Harbourfront Centre. The province broke ground on a new 400,000-square-foot permanent facility at Ontario Place in May 2026 and says it is on track to open in 2029.

What Should Affected Ontario Science Centre Employees Do?

Unionized Ontario Science Centre employees should contact their union promptly. Your union can explain how the collective agreement applies to the elimination of your position and whether a grievance, reassignment, redeployment or another contractual process is available.

Don’t sign away rights or make an irreversible employment decision without first understanding the process that applies to you.

💡 Not represented by a union? If you are a non-unionized or bargaining-unit-excluded employee whose position is eliminated, have any termination or severance documents reviewed before signing. Contact Samfiru Tumarkin LLP to find out what you could be owed.

For non-unionized employees, the minimum amount required by employment standards law is not necessarily your full severance. Full compensation can be substantially higher, and for some employees can reach as much as 24 months of pay. You don’t need to calculate that yourself — the important first step is simply having the offer reviewed.

Ontario Science Centre Layoff FAQs

Is the Ontario Science Centre laying off employees in 2026?

Yes. The latest union count says 31 positions were affected in the September 2026 restructuring, including 27 permanent roles and four contract roles. Initial reports had put the number at 30.

Did the Ontario Science Centre lay off its entire science department?

Yes. The Canadian Press reported that the entire science department was affected, while OPSEU/SEFPO described the restructuring as eliminating the standalone Science Unit. The province says science expertise and programming will continue elsewhere in the organization.

What other Ontario Science Centre departments are affected?

Business development, security and live exhibits are also among the teams affected by the restructuring.

Are the affected Ontario Science Centre employees unionized?

The current workforce cuts involve employees represented by OPSEU/SEFPO Local 549. Unionized employees must address termination and workplace disputes through their union and the applicable grievance process.

Can Samfiru Tumarkin LLP represent a unionized Ontario Science Centre employee?

No. Unionized employees must deal with employment disputes through their union. Samfiru Tumarkin LLP can assist non-unionized or bargaining-unit-excluded employees with termination and severance issues.

Affected By Ontario Science Centre Job Cuts?

Unionized employees should contact their union about their rights. Non-unionized or excluded workers should get termination documents reviewed before signing.

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Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of non-unionized employees in Canada. It is not specific to any one company and SHOULD NOT be read as suggesting any improper conduct on the part of any specific employer, or a relationship between Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and a specific employer.

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