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TSX Eyes Fresh Records as Oil Climbs and the Loonie Strengthens

  Monday, August 10, 2026 Canadian and global markets head into the new week riding one of the strongest stretches of the summer. The TSX just posted its best week in about four months and closed at a fresh record Friday, Wall Street notched record closes of its own, and gold is sitting near all-time highs. The mood this morning is cautiously upbeat, but two threads are doing most of the work behind the scenes: whether Iran and Oman can actually reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and whether Ottawa and Washington can strike a deal before the August 19 tariff deadline — now just nine days away. 🇨🇦 TSX: Fresh Record, Best Week Since Early Spring The S&P/TSX Composite closed Friday at a record 36,381.23 , up 244.92 points (+0.70%) on the day. For the week, the index gained roughly 3.3% — its biggest weekly advance in about four months. Gold and mining stocks led the charge, supercharged by a blowout July jobs report: Canada added 75,100 jobs versus the roughly 17,800 economists expe...

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Ontario Science Centre Closure Attributed To ‘Political Move,’ Says Architecture Firm

 

The Ontario Science Centre, a beloved institution in Toronto, recently faced an abrupt closure due to safety concerns related to its roof. However, the architectural firm behind the centre, Moriyama Teshima Architects, has expressed disbelief at the decision, labeling it as “absurd” and driven by political motives rather than genuine safety concerns.

The late architect Raymond Moriyama designed the science centre, which opened in 1969 near the west branch of the Don River. Last week, the Ministry of Infrastructure and Infrastructure Ontario announced the closure, citing health and safety concerns over failing roof panels made with reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete, a material popular in the 1960s and '70s. The government acted swiftly after receiving an engineer’s report detailing roof problems, but the architects argue that the entire building need not have been shut down immediately.

Brian Rudy, a partner with Moriyama Teshima Architects, emphasized that the roof panel issue was not a surprise and had been known for years. He criticized the decision as a “political move” and questioned the need for a complete closure. Replacing the roof would take years and cost upwards of $40 million, according to Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma. However, Rudy contends that public areas of the building could have remained open during repairs.

The closure sparked outrage from local residents, science enthusiasts, and opposition politicians, who have called on the government to reconsider its decision. While safety is paramount, the architects’ perspective sheds light on the complexities of balancing safety concerns with the preservation of cultural and educational institutions.

In summary, the Ontario Science Centre’s closure has become a contentious issue, with the architectural firm attributing it to politics rather than a straightforward health-and-safety matter. The centre’s fate remains uncertain, but the debate continues as stakeholders advocate for a more nuanced approach to addressing structural challenges while keeping the institution accessible to the public.


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