Centre for Geography and Exploration facts for kids
The Centre for Geography and Exploration is a special place in Ottawa, Canada. It's the main office for the Royal Canadian Geographical Society (RCGS) and home to Canadian Geographic magazine. This is where they work on projects about Canada's geography and education.
The building is located at 50 Sussex Drive, right next to the French Embassy. It has amazing views of the Rideau Falls and the Ottawa River. Before it became the Centre for Geography and Exploration, it was a small museum called the Canada and the World Pavilion. This museum showed Canada's achievements in sports, arts, culture, and science.
Contents
Discovering the Centre's History
What was here before?
For a very long time, the land where the Centre stands was important to the Algonquin People. Indigenous families gathered near the Gatineau River and Ottawa River. They came here to hunt, pick berries, fish, and trade goods. It was a busy and important meeting place.
From Museum to Exploration Hub
The building itself was first built in 2000. It opened as the Canada and the World Pavilion. This museum was part of an exhibition by the National Film Board of Canada. However, not many people visited, so it closed in 2005.
The building stayed empty for many years. Then, in 2016, the Royal Canadian Geographical Society and the National Capital Commission had an idea. They decided to turn the empty building into Canada's Centre for Geography and Exploration. This was a big part of Canada's 150th birthday celebrations in 2017.
The newly updated building opened in stages. Some exhibits were ready in 2017. The whole building, including the RCGS offices, fully opened in 2018. One year later, a special plaque was put up. It officially declared 50 Sussex Drive the home of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
Famous Faces at the Centre
Many well-known people have visited the Centre for Geography and Exploration. These include Jeopardy host Alex Trebek, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and famous scientist Jane Goodall. Other notable visitors are explorer Michael Palin, anthropologist Wade Davis, and Canadian astronaut Roberta Bondar.
What's Inside Today?
Exploring the Galleries
The Centre has two main galleries on its main and upper floors. These spaces show exciting exhibits about Canada's land and people. Past exhibits have included plans for Ottawa's future and art by Alex Janvier. There have also been displays about the Inuit people of the Canadian Arctic.
A cool feature in the main gallery is Canada's first Google Earth Wall. It's a huge screen, three metres tall! You can use it to explore different places and learn about important issues around the world. The exhibit spaces are also used for special events like meetings and weddings.
The Alex Trebek Theatre
Another important part of 50 Sussex Drive is the Alex Trebek Theatre. This theatre has 280 seats. It's a place where geographers, explorers, photographers, and teachers give talks. They also host "Can Geo Talks" events and show films. It's a great spot to learn and be inspired by amazing stories of exploration.
