Spaces to Learn and Grow: IO’s Role in Delivering Education and Sport Infrastructure
While we might be best known for major transit and healthcare projects, Infrastructure Ontario (IO) has also played a key role in delivering major expansions and upgrades to education and sport infrastructure across Ontario. These unique projects are more than just physical spaces—they are the foundation on which active, thriving and inclusive communities are built. From post-secondary institutions to sports fields and recreation centres, these spaces shape not only individual lives but also the collective strength of our neighbourhoods and cities.
Enhancing Post-Secondary Education Through Infrastructure
Post-secondary infrastructure projects have a direct and lasting impact on the people they are designed to serve, including students, faculty, researchers, and surrounding communities. Over the years, institutions such as Humber College, Seneca College’s King Campus, and Sheridan College’s Hazel McCallion Campus have all benefited from major expansions and upgrades in partnership with IO.
By supporting the construction and modernization of academic buildings, research centres, student residences, and other critical facilities, IO has enabled these institutions to increase capacity, enhance learning environments, offer innovative programs, and support cutting-edge research. For students, this translates to access to high-quality learning spaces that enrich their academic journeys and prepare them for a dynamic workforce. Faculty and researchers benefit from state-of-the-art facilities that support collaboration and discovery.
Competing in Sport with Intention
The 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games—supported by the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto—delivered the largest sporting event in Canadian history. IO’s 2015 Pan Am projects led to the creation and enhancement of vibrant sporting venues across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). These investments allowed for the construction of new facilities and the revitalization of existing ones in local communities. The Athletes’ Village served as a major catalyst for development, transforming a long-vacant area into a vibrant, sustainable, and mixed-use community that continues to thrive today.
“Building sport infrastructure with long-term community benefit means creating spaces that outlive the spotlight—places where future generations can play, grow, and come together, long after the final whistle of a single event”
- Denise McNally, Senior Vice President – Public Works, Project Delivery
From the outset, the goal wasn’t just to build for the Games, but to ensure that these facilities would remain accessible and beneficial to the communities they serve. Ten years later, that vision continues to thrive. Whether hosting elite athletes in training or welcoming residents for recreational use, these venues have become hubs of social, economic, and cultural activity. They foster social connections, encourage inclusive participation in sport, and strengthen community identity.
Building with Purpose
These unique community-focused facilities embody our mission: to create value by building, maintaining, and modernizing the province’s public assets. The legacy of the 2015 Pan Am facilities and educational expansions stand as a testament to building with purpose. They not only support education and wellness but also foster lasting community connections that will continue to grow for generations.