Sunday was the last chance for many people to see Pearson International Airport's Terminal 2, which is slated to close Jan. 30 and be torn down later this year.
At midnight Tuesday, the old airport terminal will officially be closed. But airport officials let people visit on Sunday to get a final look at the sometimes hated but often memorable Terminal 2.
On the departures level, in the area that was once the Domestic Flights/RapidAir section of the building, a photo display and memory book were made available for visitors. It is a small gesture to the fact that the terminal holds deep memories for many people.
For decades, Terminal 2 was the first sight many people had of Canada when they immigrated to the country. Like all airports it holds memories of loved ones who left and others who returned.
But the building was also disliked, even despised, for its cramped spaces and drab atmosphere reminiscent of its origins in 1972.
With a touch of sadness for employees, the useful life of the building will come to an end on Monday night. At 9:30 p.m. that evening the last flight will depart.
Demolition of the building will begin in April. The closure and demolition are part of the Greater Toronto Airport Authority's eight-year redevelopment plan that was launched in 1998.
On Tuesday, a new $800 million facility will take over the responsibilities of the old building. Terminal 1 Pier F will be a high-tech replacement, featuring the latest in security technology.
The newly designed terminal is expected to be a bright and airy space that will include one of the fastest people movers in the world.
