Barker Field

Economic and Urban Redevelopment. Bombardier Aerospace, the final operator, sold the land in 2018 to facilitate a massive urban redevelopment project. The closure was a planned part of vacating the site to allow for the construction of a new mixed-use community. It was not closed due to an accident or sudden failure.

The site is undergoing a complete transformation. The former airport lands are being redeveloped into a large-scale, mixed-use community. A significant portion of the property is already Downsview Park, a national urban park. Other active uses on the site include Centennial College's aerospace campus (housed in the historic de Havilland buildings) and Downsview Park Studios, a major film production facility. The runway and taxiways are in the process of being dismantled to make way for new roads, parks, and buildings.

Downsview Airport was a cornerstone of Canadian aviation for over 90 years. It was established in 1929 by de Havilland Canada as a manufacturing plant and airfield. It is the birthplace of many iconic Canadian aircraft, including the DHC-2 Beaver, DHC-6 Twin Otter, and the Bombardier Dash 8 (Q400). In 1947, the site was acquired by the government and became Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Station Downsview, later Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Toronto. It served as a critical military air transport and search-and-rescue base during the Cold War. After the military base's closure, it remained a vital center for aerospace manufacturing and flight testing under Bombardier until 2023.

None. The closure is permanent. The land is among the most valuable undeveloped parcels in Toronto, and a comprehensive, multi-decade redevelopment plan is already underway. There are no plans or prospects for the site to ever operate as an airport again.