Telus World of Science Edmonton facts for kids
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| Former name | Edmonton Space Science Centre Edmonton Space and Science Centre Odyssium |
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| Established | July 1, 1984 |
| Location | 11211 142 Street NW Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T5M 4A1 |
| Type | Science Centre |
| Visitors | 260’000 (2022) |
| Architect | Douglas Cardinal |
| Public transit access |   Westmount Transit Centre |
The Telus World of Science Edmonton (TWOSE) is a super cool place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. It's a big science centre where you can learn about space, science, and technology. A non-profit group called the Edmonton Space & Science Foundation runs it. This centre is huge, with lots of public space for you to explore. It's the biggest science centre in Western Canada! It's also part of big science groups like the Association of Science-Technology Centers (ASTC).
Discover the Telus World of Science Edmonton
A Look Back: History of the Science Centre
The story of the science centre began a long time ago.
- 1960: The Queen Elizabeth Planetarium opened. It was Edmonton's first planetarium. It was a small place where people could learn about stars.
- 1980: The City of Edmonton decided to build a bigger science centre. It was a special project for Alberta's 75th birthday. A famous architect named Douglas Cardinal designed the first building.
- 1984: The new centre opened its doors. It was called the Edmonton Space Sciences Centre.
- 1990: The name changed to the Edmonton Space and Science Centre.
- 1993: The centre got bigger! A new part was added with more space. This included a new lobby, gift shop, and a cafe. There was also a large area for special exhibits.
- 2001: Another big expansion happened. The centre also got a new name: the Odyssium.
- 2005: The centre changed its name again. It became the Telus World of Science Edmonton. This happened because Telus Communications became a sponsor. The centre now welcomes over half a million visitors each year. It also has Canada's largest planetarium dome, called the Zeidler Dome.
- 2016: A huge plan called the Aurora Project was announced. This plan was to make the science centre even better. It included new galleries and an upgraded restaurant. A new entrance and gift shop were also part of the plan.
- 2016-2018: The first parts of the Aurora Project were finished. The Purple Pear Restaurant was updated. The Zeidler Dome got a complete makeover. The S.P.A.C.E. (Stars, Planets, Astronauts, Comets, etc.) Gallery was also reimagined.
- 2018-2022: More new galleries were added. These included the Nature Exchange, Curious City, and Health Zone. The Science Garage also got bigger.
- 2022-2023: The Arctic Expedition and a new front entrance opened. This meant the Aurora Project was finally complete!
Explore the Fun: What's Inside?
The Telus World of Science has many exciting areas to explore.
The Amazing IMAX Theatre
This theatre has 275 seats. It shows awesome educational movies. These movies are filmed in super high resolution. The Telus World of Science was the first place in Western Canada to have an IMAX Theatre. The screen is huge, like a four-story building! The sound system is also amazing. In 2016, the IMAX theatre was upgraded. It now uses a special 4K projector system. This makes the images even clearer. You can also watch Hollywood movies here sometimes. But remember, tickets for IMAX movies are separate from your general admission.
Journey to the Stars: Zeidler Dome
The Margaret Zeidler Star Theatre is a large dome theatre. It has 250 seats. When it opened in 1984, it was the biggest in Canada. It used to show laser shows and star shows. In 2008, the theatre got a new projection system. Now, it offers a full dome video experience. This means the videos surround you! The Telus World of Science Edmonton was the first in Canada to use this cool technology. Shows in the Star Theatre are included with your general admission. They also have powerful lasers for weekly laser shows.
Grab a Bite & Souvenirs
The science centre has a cafe called the Purple Pear. It's a great place to eat or grab a snack. They focus on fresh, local ingredients. In 2016, the cafe was updated. It was also the first place in Western Canada to use special Coca-Cola Freestyle machines. There's also a gift shop in the lobby. You can find educational toys, books, and cool gifts there.
Outdoor Adventures: Coronation Park
The Historic Planetarium
The Queen Elizabeth Planetarium (QEP) was built in 1959. It was the original home of the science centre. It was used for many years. In 2016, the City of Edmonton decided to fix it up. They also gave it special heritage status. On July 1st, 2023, the QEP reopened to the public.
Stargazing at the Observatory
The Observatory opened in 1984. It's an outdoor building in Coronation Park. You can visit it for free! But it only opens when the weather is good. It closes if it's too cold (below -10°C or 14°F). It has seven telescopes for looking at the sky. These include a big Meade 16" LX200 telescope. There are also special telescopes to look at the sun. The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada helps run the Observatory.
More to Explore
- Telus World of Science (disambiguation)
- TELUS Spark Science Centre, Calgary
- List of astronomical observatories in Canada
