- Replaced the East and West wing aluminum structures and renewed floor space areas
- Re-finished portions of the steel structure and piping in the Tropical Display House
- Re-glazed the entire facility with more energy efficient Acrylite panels and renewed and upgraded all flat roofs
- Added automated venting and irrigation systems
- Replaced the entire electrical and HVAC system of the facility, including tie-in of the new in-floor heating system from the production greenhouse
- Removed existing asbestos
- Replaced and redesigned layout of all walkways throughout conservatory display areas to provide safe and accessible pedestrian circulation
- Replaced the underground drainage systems in the display area
- Replaced and upgraded water service into the facility
- General refurbishment of the remaining public and workspace areas in the facility
- Provided new accessible public washroom facilities, doubling washroom capacity
- Renovated back-of-house area for improved operational facilities and to allow access for public/partnership groups to the new Gallery and Greenhouse Facilities
- Replaced the existing standby generator on site with higher efficiency NG unit
- Upgraded and/or replaced security and data systems
- Upgraded the central water feature in the Tropical Display
Conservatory
Operating Hours
- Tuesday/Wednesday: 11am - 4pm
- Thursday/Friday: 11am - 8pm
- Saturday/Sunday: 11am - 4pm
- Monday: Closed
Conservatory Renewal
Click here to learn more about the renewal of the Conservatory
The Conservatory was closed to the public from February 2024 to December 2025 in support of Phase 2 of the renewal project. Phase 1 and Phase 2 are now complete, marking major milestones in the Conservatory’s multi-phase revitalization.
Visit the project's public engagement page at Get Involved Thunder Bay to see what has happened so far and explore plans for the future. As the project progresses opportunities to provide input and feedback will also be available.
Conservatory Figures - Phases 1 to 3
Updates
About
The City of Thunder Bay's Centennial Botanical Conservatory is a multi-functional facility - a community gathering space that is home to a large variety of flowers, trees, tropical plants and cacti, and also a production facility where the plants that fill city-owned flower pots and gardens throughout the summer are grown over the winter and spring.
Accessible to all and a great place to visit year round, the Conservatory was opened in 1967 by the Fort William Parks Board as a Centennial project, and it is a legacy to the citizens of Thunder Bay.
In 2017, as a part of the celebration of the Conservatory's 50th anniversary the Friends of the Thunder Bay Conservatory group put together a comprehensive online history exhibit highlighting the early development of the facility and the folks instrumental in it's creation.
Location
1601 Dease St W, Thunder Bay, ON P7C 5H4 - Google Map
Facility Amenities
Some Conservatory features are seasonal
- Beehives
- Community and children's gardens
- Flowering plants, exotic trees and shrubs from around the world
- Horticultural Society's perennial garden
- Park benches (inside and outside)
- Picnic tables
- Pollinator garden
- Shade trees
- Waterfall and wishing pond
Accessible washrooms and change tables are available.
Plenty of parking is available, including motor-coach parking.
Guided tours of the Conservatory are available by request. To book a tour, call 807-625-2941.
The Conservatory is available for a range of public bookings, including rental of the new multi-purpose event room. Reservations are required.
| Booking | Rate |
|---|---|
| Multi-Purpose Room - Half-day (4 hours) | $300 +HST |
| Multi-Purpose Room - Full-day (8 hours) | $450 +HST |
| Use of Space (e.g. photos, small ceremony) - 1.5 hours | $195 +HST |
To book and for additional reservation options, email parkbookings@thunderbay.ca.
Please note that new rates and services will be introduced in April 2026.
The Friends of the Thunder Bay Conservatory host many great events at the Conservatory year-round.
Paved recreation trails are nearby that can take you to and from the Conservatory. See the City of Thunder Bay's recreational trails maps.
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