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Federal government pledges up to $20M for new Thunder Bay science centre
Federal government pledges up to $20M for new Thunder Bay science centre

CBC

time20-03-2025

  • Science
  • CBC

Federal government pledges up to $20M for new Thunder Bay science centre

A proposed science centre to be built along Thunder Bay's waterfront took a major step toward reality on Tuesday, with federal government pledging up to $20 million in funding for the project. The centre would be built along the city's waterfront, and Science North hopes to see construction start by spring 2027, said Ashley Larose, the organization's CEO. "We have been visioning a science centre with the community in Thunder Bay since 2017, and this is really the next step in allowing us to bring that vision to reality," Larose said at a media event on Wednesday. "It will be right on the waterfront right next to the art gallery, which will create a beautiful cultural anchor down at that end of the waterfront," she said. "The power of a science centre is really in its relevance to the community, so this is going to be a science centre about Thunder Bay, for Thunder Bay, in Thunder Bay." "Using the same style of science communication that we do at our centre in Sudbury, we'll be bringing that here to Thunder Bay, but telling the stories that are relevant here." The facility's design is still being finalized, Larose said, but noted the funding was coming through the government's Green and Inclusive Community Buildings program, and would be built to the Canadian Green Building Council's Zero Carbon Building V4 standards. In a media release, the federal government said the centre will include a "heating and cooling system that uses geothermal power from Lake Superior." "It's really important that people in this day and age, maybe more than ever, really understand the world around them," Larose said. "We want to build critical thinking skills. We want to build the workforce of the future as well, and science centres play a really pivotal role in that." Northwood Coun. Dominic Pasqualino, who was at the event on Wednesday, said the centre would be a great thing for Thunder Bay. "City council is certainly interested in supporting this," he said. "We really very much want to see this here." "There have been land use studies for that area, and this would fit in really well in the waterfront," Pasqualino said. "So we're looking to make sure that there would be support from the city." "Now, what that entails, that has to be determined at this point." Larose said the final cost of the centre is yet to be determined, and Science North is currently working to secure the site. Science North currently runs its Thunder Bay operation out of the Boys and Girls Club building. "We've actually had that office for about 15 years, and that was really our first step in engaging with this community," Larose said. "Our mandate is to serve all of northern Ontario, so it's really important that we have a strong presence in northwestern Ontario. That office allows us to do that." "From that office, we also deliver summer camps, school programming, we do adult nerd nights on a regular basis here in the community, which we love to do," she said. "This next phase is going to allow us to also take that even further." Pool Six development study released The proposed science centre's location falls in an area that was the focus of a new economic study, a summary of which was released earlier this week by the Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC). The study looked at best uses of the Pool Six property and tugboat basin, which runs from the city's cruise ship dock north along the Lake Superior shoreline to the new Thunder Bay Art Gallery site. And the study shows the area has the potential to generate up to $15.4 million in tax revenue for the city annually. "The city has done a great job in terms of waterfront development," said CEDC CEO Jamie Taylor. "Pool Six was really the last remaining piece." "We understood the city was going to be undertaking an update to the Waterfront Master Plan, and we wanted to ensure that, at the time of the initiation of the study, that ... the economic impact would be considered as part of development." Thunder Bay waterfront - Pool 6 Lands 14 hours ago Duration 0:28 A new study says developing the area could bring in more than $15 million in tax revenue annually. The CEDC worked with Bain Smith Consulting and Book McIlroy on the study, which explored various potential developments, including hotels, condos, retail space, restaurants, a conference centre, and a Nordic spa. "The development options that were recommended that would provide the best tax return really were a mix of a few of these things," Taylor said, adding there's "definitely opportunity for apartments or condominiums with first floor commercial space availability within those buildings." There's room for one to two hotels on the property, and Taylor said a Nordic spa is also recommended. A conference centre may also be a good fit, but Taylor said more feasibility work needs to be done around how such a facility would be funded. Taylor said the cruise ship dock will remain in its current location, and any development would protect the habitat pond on the area. The Pool Six building, which is located near to the dock and currently houses city offices, would be torn down. Taylor said the study will be used to inform the development of the next phase of the city's Waterfront Master Plan. Kara Pratt, executive director of the Waterfront District BIA, said the potential developments at Pool Six are "wonderful." "Anything that can help maintain city services, city infrastructure, and brings people to our area is beyond great," she said. "We want to see more tourists in the waterfront district, more locals, and we want to see people brought through the city, not just using the Trans Canada Highway as a thoroughfare."

Day camps continue to be a popular March Break activity for parents and kids in Sudbury
Day camps continue to be a popular March Break activity for parents and kids in Sudbury

CBC

time14-03-2025

  • CBC

Day camps continue to be a popular March Break activity for parents and kids in Sudbury

Enrolling children in day camps and other activities during March Break continues to be a popular choice for families, despite the costs to participate. In Sudbury, organizations like the art gallery, Science North, sports clubs, and others offer day-to-day or week-long day camps for March Break, in addition to traditional summer camps and programming. Many of the camps sell out weeks in advance, with some having to put families on wait lists. "Our camps are incredibly popular," said Annemarie Mantione, STEM Specialist with the Youth Engagement Unit at Sudbury's Science North. "We sold out this March Break with a waiting list and we also offer summer camps that are open right now for registration across 39 communities across Northern Ontario and those also often sell out." Mantione said there are 88 children enrolled in the five-day March Break camp between the ages of four and 11. She said the theme this year is "creative building," with kids doing hands-on STEM activities that focus on building, problem solving and creating. "Our campers have been having an absolute blast," said Mantione. "They've been really enjoying all the activities, getting to explore the science centres. Parents are excited about how many activities their kids are doing." Another business seeing their camp spots fill up early is Northstar Martial Arts in Sudbury. Northstar offers March Break and summer camps for up to 20 children between the ages of four and 12, and owner Sonia Paquette said she is trying to increase her class sizes due to more demand year after year. "Our March Break sells out every year and then we're almost sold out for summer camps already," said Paquette. "So it's something I have to plan in advance. And we're trying to accommodate more kids so that we have more spots available." Paquette added that camps are a great way for children to learn different social and physical skills and try new things and experiences in a safe, fun environment. Those are the main reasons many parents say they choose to keep enrolling their kids, despite how expensive some of the camps can be to attend. Many week-long day camps can cost hundreds of dollars for the five days. "We think this is an awesome investment," said Jessica Hall, who enrolled her six-year-old son Robin in the Northstar Martial Arts camp this week for the first time. "He meets new people and learns new skills and for us that's really great." For Suzanne Hallet, she said it's a worthy investment for her eight-year-old son to attend the martial arts camp, but knows the expense can be harder for some families. "At the end of the day, we're all trying to get ahead, so I think that it's really important to keep the camps as cost effective as possible to allow access for all kids to have fun and play and learn and grow," said Hallet. Jenny Labrosse's daughter spent a few days at art camp this week, and said when it comes to weighing costs, it depends on the type of activity they are looking at. "It varies from household to household," said Labrosse. "If it's something she's going to like and if it's something she's interested in, then I mean, cost really isn't a factor for us." The Art Gallery of Sudbury is one of a handful of organizations that offers individual camp days in addition to week-long programs, which can be an alternative and more cost-effective option for parents who don't want to book a full week. Art gallery education coordinator Sarah Blondin said their art class sizes are smaller with about a dozen kids at a time, so spots fill up quickly. "They are pretty popular. They do tend to sell out kind of fast, which is a good feeling. It means that we're doing something right," said Blondin.

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