The Exploration Place Museum and Science Centre will officially re-open in mid-June after closing shortly after the start of the COIVD-19 pandemic for a two-year renovation project.
Exploration Place CEO Tracy Calogheros and curator Alyssa Leier attended Prince George city council’s Monday night meeting to give an update on the Living Evolution Renovation Project.
The museum has been closed since March 2020, but Calogheros said the Exploration Place will now be ready to welcome the public back in some capacity on June 18.
While under renovation Exploration Place did host a pop-up at Pine Centre Mall during January, February and March which saw 60,000 visitors.
“So, there is definitely a pent up demand,” said Calogheros. “Folks are looking for us to get back to them.”
The extensive renovations amount to over $1.4 million in funding, with the exception, of about $45,000 from the Regional District of Fraser Fort George for its new fire system.
“There is another significant announcement that is currently embargoed that will actually take this project over $2 million,” said Calogheros, adding the additional funding will be used for building upgrade expenses.
“If you go through the park right now you will see we are putting on a new roof on the building and we have increased our insulation to address some of the climate change problems that the whole world is facing.”
The renovated Exploration Place will feature a new modern look, a new kitchen and retail space, a 90ft long living aquaponics wall, an expanded biome gallery and more.
Calogheros said the Origins Kitchen, which will serve food both into the museum and directly into Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park through an outside service window, is one area that the public is really excited about.
“We have developed a teaching kitchen, that also has a café in it, and a big piece of what we are planning to do as we reopen is offer cooking classes both for adults and kids,” added Calogheros. “We are going to work with Northern Health to do a bunch of programming toward youth-at-risk all based out of that kitchen.”
Those dining in the museum from Origins Kitchen will be able to sit in The Gaia Hall which features the 90ft-living wall and will also showcase dinosaur skeletons, fossil trackways and interactive tables.
The museum will also be opening the Link gallery which features the ice age in our region and will include a full-size woolly mammoth and cave bear, whereas the George Phillips Exhibit Gallery will be expanded and moved to the main floor.
“It gives us room to not only bring in those travelling exhibits people are so excited about all the time but also allow us to develop in-house exhibits,” said Calogheros.
The Mosaic Gallery, located next to the permanent Lheidli T’enneh Hodul’eh-a place of learning gallery, will feature repatriation projects for neighbouring nations, leaving space for gatherings and ceremonies.
The Ted Williams History Centre will feature a new Mr. PG dedicated gallery as well as the new beloved mechanical Northern Hardware horse Champ.
“We are creating a Mr PG dedicated gallery,” said Calogheros. “He’s a big enough deal he needs his own space and we have so many Mr PG collectibles that really, we needed to fill a room.”
Lastly, the museum will expand its biome between two floors and to many parents’ delight will include a children’s climbing structure.
“There will be something that is a gross motor activity in that upper gallery,” said Calogheros.
She noted that the biome will be an essential feature in the museum’s climate change work, and will be gradually adding more animal ambassadors over time.
“It's going to be an exciting time for Prince George to reintroduce themselves to the museum in town. It has always changed over the years, but I can’t think of a time in my lifetime where it has changed this substantially so quickly,” said Coun. Kyle Sampson.
“It is really exciting to see the progress and hear the pride from you guys, coming to share all the changes that you’ve made. I know it is going to have a huge impact on our community,” added Coun. Cori Ramsay.
Calogheros said that because of the new kitchen and museum expansion, the Exploration Place will be going from approximately 28 staff members to 53, which will contribute to an increase in membership and daily pricing.
“I do anticipate a significant increase at least in the neighbourhood of 15 per cent,” said Calogheros, noting that the Exploration Place will be announcing pricing closer to its official opening.
