Sitting prominently on Lake Ontario, Harbourfront Centre was once a trucking warehouse that processed goods arriving by rail or ship. In 1972, the port was transformed into a public space, born out of a mandate to bring culture, education, recreation, and ultimately visitors to the lake, and early programming included literary readings, contemporary dance, exhibition spaces, and active public craft studios. The population around the harbour has since boomed, with the majority made up of first-generation Canadians. In 1991, Harbourfront Centre was established as a platform for artists, and the ten-acre site was transformed into one of the few places in Toronto where multiple forms of production, performance, and international programming coexist. Today, Harbourfront Centre is Toronto’s waterfront community campus for arts, culture, learning and recreation. The organization champions established and emerging Canadian artists across varied disciplines and serves as a recreational hub for more than 6.3 million annual visitors.
