Paul Lefebvre was at Dynamic Earth with some Grade 3 and 5 students from St. David’s School today.
The Sudbury MPP wasn’t there just to visit the Big Nickel though. Nope, he was there to announce more than $400,000 in funding through Canadian Heritage for Greater Sudbury’s award-winning science centres.
Northern Ontario’s only outdoor science park — currently under construction at Dynamic Earth and opening this summer —is receiving $310,000 through the Canada Cultural Spaces Fund. While Science North’s new travelling exhibit, Wild Weather, is getting $100,000 through the Museums Assistance Program.
“Science North has become synonymous with leadership in science education, in family entertainment and in promoting Sudbury to the rest of Canada and the world,” said Lefebvre in a news release. “Since 1998, the federal government has invested close to $8 million to support expansion plans at Science North and Dynamic Earth.”
In the release, Nickel Belt MP Marc Serré said the investments are not just about boosting tourism, but educational opportunities.
“Our government is demonstrating its commitment to Northern Ontario by investing in educational and engaging experiences at Science North,” he said. “The investments being made to Dynamic Earth present a significant opportunity to boost tourism to Greater Sudbury.”
Scott Lund, chair of the Science North board of directors, said government investment is “crucial” for the two science-based attractions.
“It is crucial for both Science North and Dynamic Earth to have continuous change in order to attract new tourists and encourage repeat visitation to the science centres, and this funding support helps realize this goal,” Lund said.
Science park
The science park at Dynamic Earth is a 1,500-square-metre outdoor exhibit, opening this summer, will feature full-sized mining equipment incorporated into the experience and science-themed interactive structures.
Visitors will be able to sit in and play with a real load-haul-dump truck, use a slide designed to represent a slag pour, create music with a rock xylophone made of limestone slabs, and ride on a wave machine — a teeter-totter like structure that mimics the travel of seismic waves.
The development of the outdoor science park is part of a $3-million multi-year expansion and renewal initiative at Dynamic Earth, which began in 2014. Among the projects included in the renewal is an enhanced underground experience, upgrades to the Nickel City Stories object theatre, and new hands-on exhibits in the galleries.
In addition to the investment provided by Canadian Heritage, the Dynamic Earth renewal initiative has been supported by FedNor, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation, the City of Greater Sudbury, and the J.P. Bickell Foundation.
Wild Weather
Opening June 11, Wild Weather is a 600-square-metre interactive travelling exhibition, designed to immerse and engage visitors of all ages in the science of severe weather.
Sudbury.com will bring you the full Wild Weather experience in an upcoming report next week.
If you can’t wait, visit the Wild Weather website.
