Ontario Science Centre Jumps Up to the Beat of Scotiabank Caribana

Festival Events, New Award and Summer Programming Announced

TORONTO, July 15 /CNW/ - The Ontario Science Centre is dancing to the rhythm of Scotiabank Caribana through a new partnership with the annual celebration of Caribbean culture. The Centre has planned a variety of exciting interactive activities to kick-off the new relationship with the renowned city-wide festival.

From July 15 to August 1, Torontonians and visitors to the city are encouraged to join the Science Centre in the excitement.  On July 17, children and adults are invited to celebrate Junior Carnival at Yorkgate Mall for a variety of fun and engaging activities that allow everyone to be a scientist. From carnival costume mechanics with K'NEX, to the Aging Machine, the human torso and pinwheel hat making, the Science Centre will host activities to delight and challenge all ages. Find out the winner of the Ontario Science Centre Innovative Costume Award on July 29 at the King and Queen competition at Lamport Stadium. Look for the Science Centre tent on July 31 at Marilyn Bell Park, and on August 1, join in at De Scotiabank Caribana Lime at Ontario Place.   

"The Science Centre is excited to partner with Scotiabank Caribana in celebrating Caribbean culture and traditions," said Dr. Hooley McLaughlin, Vice-President, Science Experience and Chief Science Officer of the Ontario Science Centre.  "Many people may not make the direct link between science and the festival, but we want to introduce people to the mathematics and physics that inform the innovative creation of musical rhythms, and the mechanics behind the dynamic costumes."

Ontario Science Centre Innovative Costume Award

To mark the inaugural year of its participation in Scotiabank Caribana, the Ontario Science Centre Innovative Costume Award will recognize innovation in costume design at the celebration, widely known for its vibrant and dazzling costumes.  The Award will shine a light on the intricate art and scientific merit of costume design by honouring the engineers of these creative masterpieces.  

Summer Programming - The Science of Steel Pan

The Science Centre will be giving visitors more reasons to jump up this summer.  As previously announced, the Science Centre is celebrating Caribbean culture and community as part of its summer programming. On July 23, 24, 25 and 26, children and adults are invited to witness how the innovative steel pan uses science and technology to turn an oil drum into a soul vibe.  Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in the science behind this distinctive and popular Caribbean musical invention, while enjoying the rhythmic sounds in the Weston Family Innovation Centre. They will be challenged to prototype the next evolution of the E-pan and to create a new instrument that does not yet exist.

In August, the Centre will host interactive demonstrations and workshops about the technologies behind those dazzling carnival costumes and put visitors' costume creations to the test of the rigours of a carnival parade.

The Ontario Science Centre's Scotiabank Caribana programming events are free with admission to the Science Centre. The Science Centre is easily accessible via the TTC. Go to www.ontariosciencecentre.ca and click on the "Visit Us" tab for directions.

About the Ontario Science Centre:

The Ontario Science Centre uses science as the lens to inspire and actively engage people in new ways of seeing, understanding and thinking about themselves and the world around them. Our facility has received Green Building certification for energy efficiency by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), and was named building of the year in the Public Assembly category. The Ontario Science Centre is an agency of the Government of Ontario. For more information, visit www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca or call our box office at 416-696-1000. Twitter: ontsciencectr

About Scotiabank Caribana

The Scotiabank Caribana Festival is an exciting three-week cultural explosion of Caribbean music, cuisine, revelry as well as visual and performing arts. Now in its 43rd year, it has become a major international event and the largest cultural festival of its kind in North America. As Carnival is an international cultural phenomenon, the great metropolis of Toronto and its environs will come alive as the city explodes with the pulsating rhythms and melodies of Calypso, Soca, Reggae, Hip Hop, Chutney, Steel Pan and Brass Bands. The Festival Management Committee oversees the running of North America's largest outdoor festival.

This year the official launch of the Scotiabank Caribana Festival will take place at noon on Thursday, July 15, 2010 at Yonge-Dundas Square, and the parade will be staged on Saturday, July 31, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For further information please visit www.caribanafestival.com.

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