The Ontario Science Centre celebrates 45 years of inspiring curiosity, discovery and innovation

Admission is free on the fifth annual Community Day,  presented by TELUS^® on September 28

TORONTO, Sept. 26, 2014 /CNW/ - Light the candles on the cake! The Ontario Science Centre turns 45 today. Since opening its doors in 1969, the Science Centre has welcomed more than 49 million visitors, including astronauts (Chris Hadfield, Roberta Bondar, Jeremy Hansen), royalty (Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip), rock stars (John Lennon, Carly Rae Jepsen, Steve Cropper), and more. To commemorate the occasion and sustain its culture of accessibility, the Ontario Science Centre will host its fifth annual Community Day, presented by TELUS, on Sunday, September 28, offering free admission from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Special Community Day programming includes planetarium and paper-making demonstrations; a display of Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival costumes; performances by JiggiJump and the Kid Mitchell Band; and, opportunities to play in the TELUS Musical Mash-up digital band and learn about internet and smartphone safety from the TELUS WISE team. Plus, the Centre invites adult visitors to "be a kid again" with entry to all scheduled IMAX^® films (Under the Sea and Island of Lemurs: Madagascar) at the children's $9 price.

"Today we celebrate 45 years of interactive, engaging and impactful experiences that inspire curiosity, discovery and innovation that connect visitors to the science in everyday life," said Dr. Maurice Bitran, CEO, Ontario Science Centre. "Knowing that the importance of science and innovation in today's society is greater than ever before, the Ontario Science Centre will continue to play a leadership role in fostering a culture of science and innovation and in curating the public dialogue between science and society in the communities we serve." 

"The Ontario Science Centre played an important role in my life growing up. It was a place where I could learn something new, have fun and be inspired," said Michael Coteau, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport. "The Science Centre continues this legacy today, and I am honoured to celebrate its 45 years on Community Day this Sunday."

In addition to being one of Canada's premier cultural attractions, the Ontario Science Centre is considered one of the top institutions of its kind in the world.  Always evolving, the Centre offers topical exhibitions and engaging programming that provide visitors with new perspectives about the world around them.

The Science of Rock 'N' Roll, which explores how advances in science and technology have revolutionized how we make, listen, experience and share music, continues its run until October 26, 2014. The interactive exhibition invites visitors to rock out and explore the convergence of art, science and technology. The Science of Rock 'N' Roll is free with general admission. For an additional $2, visitors may capture video footage of their rock star moments to share with their friends using the Backstage Pass available onsite.

Come November 19, 2014, visitors will be invited to step into the amazing changing brain. Brain: The Inside Story allows for an unprecedented journey through the essential bundle of neurons that is the human brain – the control centre for our thoughts, senses and feelings. Visitors will have an opportunity to explore how the brain processes languages, organizes the visual and stores memories, and learn how new knowledge about the brain's inner workings may help scientists repair and improve brain function.

About the Ontario Science Centre
The Ontario Science Centre delights, informs and challenges the communities we serve, enriching people's lives and understanding through engagement with science of local, national and global relevance. Since 1969, the Ontario Science Centre has welcomed more than 49 million visitors, with an interactive approach that was the model for Science Centres around the world. It is a venue for public dialogue about science and society, aiming to inspire a lifelong journey of curiosity, discovery and action to create a better future for the planet. Please visit us at OntarioScienceCentre.ca.

About TELUS

TELUS (TSX: T, NYSE: TU) is Canada's fastest-growing national telecommunications company, with $11.7 billion of annual revenue and 13.4 million customer connections, including 7.9 million wireless subscribers, 3.2 million wireline network access lines, 1.4 million Internet subscribers and 865,000 TELUS TV customers. TELUS provides a wide range of communications products and services, including wireless, data, Internet protocol (IP), voice, television, entertainment and video, and is Canada's largest healthcare IT provider.

In support of our philosophy to give where we live, TELUS, our team members and retirees have contributed more than $350 million to charitable and not-for-profit organizations and volunteered 5.4 million hours of service to local communities since 2000. TELUS was honoured to be named the most outstanding philanthropic corporation globally for 2010 by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, becoming the first Canadian company to receive this prestigious international recognition.

For more information about TELUS, please visit telus.com.

For images and video, please visit: www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/Media/ImagesVideo

Social Media Links

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/OntarioScienceCentre
Twitter: @OntScienceCtr | #ScienceRocks
YouTube: www.YouTube.com/user/OntarioScienceCentre

SOURCE: Ontario Science Centre

Anna Relyea, Director, Strategic Communications, 416-696-3273, c: 416-668-1967, [email protected]; Jefferson Darrell, Media Relations Officer, 416-696-3154, [email protected]; Andrea Mus, Media Relations Officer, 416-696-3191, [email protected]