Explaining how the mining industry works is the goal of Dynamic Earth.
Up until now, residents and visitors to one of the city's star tourist attractions were educated only on how Greater Sudbury's trillion dollar ore body is mined.
Now, processing those tonnes of rocks, bringing it to the surface and following it through to becoming 99.9 per cent pure metal, is highlighted as part of Dynamic Earth's third expansion - the Xstrata Nickel Gallery.
A year ago, Xstrata Nickel donated $100,000 towards the development of the unique theatre, said Jim Marchbank, CEO of Science North at the opening of the exhibit Thursday night at Dynamic Earth.
Rocks to Riches is a new multimedia walk-through theatre that uses state-of-the-art presentation technology to take you through above ground mineral processing. The presentation is hosted by a colourful figure in mining gear who takes viewers through the complete process step-by-step.
"This exhibit is wonderful. I like the interactive nature of the theatre. It is presented at the right level for people of all ages and is funny," said Kerri Jones, senior advisor for corporate affairs at Xstrata, after seeing the production.
Jones remarked that the technical accuracy of Rocks to Riches was due to a number of Xstrata staff being involved in the production.
"Visitors will have a full appreciation of what it takes to turn rocks into everyday items we use," she said.
Ontario Minister of Northern Development and Mines Michael Gravelle, Sudbury MPP Rick Bartolucci, Mayor John Rodriguez, and former Sudbury MP and Cabinet Minister Judy Erola were also among the first to tour the newly opened, multimedia exhibit Thursday night at Dynamic Earth.
"I am very pleased that the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) was able to contribute in a big way to Dynamic Earth," said Gravelle. "This state-of-the-art facility will serve to further highlight all that the mining industry has to offer in Ontario."
Mayor Rodriguez said the opening of the exhibit demonstrates that partnerships between industry and all levels of government add value to the city.
"Xstrata is just another example of how partnerships will help to bring more tourists to Greater Sudbury. With the building of new hotels and our larger festivals going on now, this will bring more people to Dynamic Earth and Science North," he said.
"Including an environmental focus (at the end of the theatre) shows the efforts of industry to keep our city clean," he added.
Erola was acknowledged as being a dynamic chair of the capital campaign for Dynamic Earth.
Jim Marchbank said it has taken 10 years to finish the third phase of the development.
"We had to do all this in stages. Only 15 months ago we finished phase two."
Visitors in 2008 will be able to explore new attractions, such as the Rockhound Lab and Ontario Rocks exhibit. A newly renovated Explora Mine and Mining Command Centre offers even more interactive experiences to discover, including a new Caterpillar excavator simulator training program.
NOHFC was the biggest contributor to Dynamic Earth, said Marchbank.
"Without them we wouldn't be here tonight. FedNor and Heritage Canada have also been significant supporters, as have hundreds of donors from companies, unions and individuals who have come forward to support what we do both at Science North and Dynamic Earth."
Bartolucci noted that the reason people were at Dynamic Earth to celebrate the success is that "we had the vision as a community and the progressive thinking at the boards of Science North and Dynamic Earth to make sure it would happen."
