Science North’s indoor facilities opened to the public today for Step 3.
This news followed the announcement that Science North will be receiving more than $8.9 million from the province this year, about $2 million more than last year’s funding. The investment from the government will help develop new exhibits and support other projects coming out of the COVID-19 lockdown.
Lisa MacLeod, minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, joined Kevin Eshkawkogan, CEO of the Indigenous Tourism Ontario, Guy Labine, CEO of Science North, and Stephen Kozsar, chair of the board of Science North, on a rainy Thursday morning at Science North to relay the new funding plan for this year.
Science North has been closed for over 480 days ever since the COVID-19 pandemic hit last March. As Step 3 approaches, MacLeod announced a recovery plan in acknowledgement of the loss the tourism industry experienced this past year.
“The tourism industry across Ontario has been hit hard, but it has been particularly hit hard here in Northern Ontario where you rely on American visitors,” MacLeod said. “The five-year plan for recovery in this sector and all of these sectors will include Indigenous peoples and a lens that would allow us to grow.”
About $150,000 of the funding is earmarked for a new Honouring Indigenous Ingenuity travelling exhibit, which will highlight Canada’s Indigenous culture.
More than $6.8 million of the funding will go towards ongoing operations and administration, including the children’s camps that are going on right now. Furthermore, $850,000 will go towards capital funding and more than $55,000 will be used for English and French summer science camps for children in Ontario.
The province will also give $1.1 million to Science North for summer programming for students across Northern Ontario. This program will allow students in grades 7 and 8 to engage in careers related to STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
“By partnering with Science North, our government is taking action to make STEM learning fun and accessible for young people, and helping to prepare them for the jobs of the future," said Stephen Lecce, minister of education, in a press release.
The program will be accessible in five different Northern communities, according to Labine.
As a part of Step 3, the capacity for the reopening of Science North will be at 50 per cent indoors.