Celebrating 40 Years of Interactive Science

Forty years after it was established as one of the world’s first interactive science museums, we are celebrating our anniversary as one of Canada’s most visited cultural attractions and one of the world’s leading science centres.

In addition to a vast array of permanent offerings, the Centre has planned an exciting lineup of events and exhibitions over its anniversary year, including:

• Sultans of Science: 1000 Years of Knowledge Rediscovered
• The Science of Spying
• Lizards & Snakes: Alive!
• BODY WORLDS & The Story of the Heart
• Three new IMAX films, starting with The ALPS and culminating with Grand Canyon Adventure
• Our annual fundraising event, the Innovators’ Ball
• Plus, the innovative FOOD: Sink your teeth into science program

2009 also marks the International Year of Astronomy (IYA), which recognizes the 400th anniversary of the use of the telescope by Galileo Galilei for astronomical discovery. We are celebrating the IYA with a series of special events, starting with the Toronto Astronomy Festival on January 10. In addition to the festival, visitors can enjoy lectures by renowned speakers, introductory astronomy courses, free star parties, the CONTACT astrophotography exhibition, two new planetarium shows, solar observing, sleepovers and many more special events.  

QUICK FACTS

• The Science Centre officially celebrates its 40th anniversary on September 26, 2009
• Since 2003, we have transformed over 60 per cent of our public space including, KidSpark, Weston Family Innovation Centre, TELUSCAPE, Space Hall and Rain Forest.
• With over a million visitors each year, half of whom come from the GTA, the Centre is an important resource for local schools and families to actively experience and engage with science
• Since 1969, we have touched the lives of more than 40 million people of all ages and origins, whether they be tourists visiting from abroad, high school students participating in a special program or adults taking a tour of a special feature exhibition.

About the Ontario Science Centre
We use science as the lens to inspire and actively engage people in new ways of seeing, understanding and thinking about themselves and the world. The Ontario Science Centre is an agency of the Government of Ontario.