Conspirituality Podcast Episode 255: A MAHA Wellness Scam at Ontario Place

Release Date: May 1, 2025

Introduction: The Transformation of Ontario Place

In Episode 255 of the Conspirituality podcast, hosts Derek Barris and Matthew Remsky delve into the controversial lease of Ontario Place to the Thermae Spa Company. Joined by guests Bruce Van Deaton and Ann Elizabeth Sampson, the discussion unpacks the intricate web of privatization, wellness commercialization, and the erosion of public spaces in Toronto. This episode critically examines how a beloved public venue has been transformed into a profit-driven wellness complex, raising significant concerns about public health, environmental impact, and democratic values.

Historical Context: The Evolution of Spas and Public Spaces

Derek Barris and Matthew Remsky begin by tracing the rich history of spas, highlighting their ancient origins in Greece, Rome, and China as communal healing centers. [03:00] Derek shares personal anecdotes from his travels, emphasizing the enduring appeal of thermal baths and public baths as sanctuaries for relaxation and socialization.

Matthew Remsky further contextualizes by discussing John Harvey Kellogg's Battle Creek Sanitarium, revealing its blend of health practices and controversial eugenic ideologies. [04:10] He underscores how historical wellness movements have often masked deeper societal issues, drawing parallels to contemporary figures like RFK Jr., who revive outdated and problematic health narratives.

The Decline of Ontario Place: From Public Gem to Neglected Space

The episode transitions to the specific case of Ontario Place, a once-thriving public space established in 1971 as a symbol of Canadian pride and post-war optimism. Bruce Van Deaton reminisces about the park's vibrant early years, including the introduction of iconic attractions like the Cinesphere and the first children's ball pit. [28:17]

However, over the decades, Ontario Place experienced a gradual decline due to underfunding and competition from larger entertainment venues like Canada's Wonderland. Ann Elizabeth Sampson explains how the closure of key attractions and lack of investment led to the park becoming a beloved yet neglected green space used informally by the community for activities like bird watching and kayaking. [34:34]

Privatization and the Thermae Spa Lease: A Controversial Agreement

The crux of the discussion centers on the Progressive Conservative government's decision to lease Ontario Place to the Thermae Spa Company for 95 years. Ann Elizabeth Sampson details the problematic aspects of the lease, highlighting flawed request for proposals (RFP) procedures that favored Thermae over local contenders and questioned the company's financial stability. [40:52]

Matthew Remsky emphasizes the astronomical increase in projected taxpayer costs from an initial estimate of $400 million to over $2.3 billion, noting potential further expenses related to transportation and infrastructure. [40:16] The lease grants Thermae unprecedented control over the site, allowing them to build and monetize extensive wellness facilities, including a colossal indoor water park with 17 pools intended to attract 14,000 visitors daily. [48:36]

Environmental and Social Implications: The Cost of Commercial Wellness

Bruce Van Deaton raises alarms about the environmental degradation resulting from the project, notably the removal of approximately 1,500 mature trees, which contradicts Toronto's ambitious urban canopy goals. [56:19] He also points out unintended ecological consequences, such as increased coyote populations due to habitat disruption. [57:21]

Ann Elizabeth Sampson criticizes Thermae's marketing rhetoric, which falsely portrays their developments as democratic and wellness-enhancing communities. She condemns the removal of natural green spaces in favor of artificial, commodified environments that undermine genuine communal and environmental benefits. [51:26]

Critique of Thermae Spa’s Claims: Unveiling the Facade

The guests meticulously deconstruct Thermae Spa's assertions that their facilities will bolster democracy and community well-being. Ann Elizabeth Sampson mocks the notion that a for-profit water park can serve as a democratic hub, highlighting the exclusivity and commercialization inherent in requiring high daily visitor numbers and substantial fees. [52:06]

Matthew Remsky humorously compares Thermae’s vision to Roman spas, questioning the feasibility of fostering genuine democratic interactions within a corporate-controlled, profit-oriented environment. [51:26]

Broader Implications: Neoliberalism and the Commodification of Public Good

The episode situates the Ontario Place lease within a larger trend of neoliberal policies that prioritize privatization and profit over public welfare. Matthew Remsky connects the dots between historical neglect of public spaces and contemporary efforts to monetize wellness, suggesting that such projects are symptomatic of a broader erosion of democratic and communal values. [55:56]

Ann Elizabeth Sampson advocates for increased public consultation, transparency, and government accountability to preserve and enhance genuine public amenities. [61:26] The guests argue that without robust public oversight, privatization initiatives like Thermae's takeover jeopardize the integrity and accessibility of cherished communal spaces.

Conclusion: Preserving Public Spaces Against Commercial Exploitation

In wrapping up, Conspirituality underscores the urgent need to resist the commodification of public spaces and defend them against exploitative privatization. Episode 255 serves as a clarion call to recognize and combat the subtle encroachments of wellness grifters and neoliberal agendas that seek to undermine public health and democratic community structures. Through the case study of Ontario Place, the podcast highlights the critical intersection of conspiracy theories, cultic dynamics, and the transformation of spirituality into profit-driven enterprises.

Notable Quotes:

• Matthew Remsky [48:36]: "17 pools and no lane pool? That is so bizarre."

• Ann Elizabeth Sampson [51:26]: "They conflate a lot of things in their assertions about what its benefits will be for our community."

• Bruce Van Deaton [56:19]: "These are the kind of retroactive, retrograde things that we just don't need, need to have happen."

• Ann Elizabeth Sampson [53:26]: "It is so anti the what the city of Toronto is trying to achieve with its own plans to try and be."

Final Thoughts

Episode 255 of Conspirituality masterfully dissects the complex layers surrounding the privatization of Ontario Place, offering listeners a comprehensive understanding of how wellness commercialization threatens public spaces and democratic values. By weaving historical insights with contemporary critiques, the podcast provides a compelling narrative that urges vigilance and advocacy in preserving communal sanctuaries against profit-driven exploitation.