Dave Roscoe from the North Bay Astronomy Club with the telescope that has been installed at the Canadian Ecology Centre. Submitted photo.
A one-of-its kind educational tourism attraction will soon open at the Canadian Ecology Centre (CEC) within Samuel de Champlain Provincial Park near Mattawa.
The 16 inch Meade, “programmable electronic” telescope is housed within a newly constructed building with a horizontal sliding roof to view the night sky.
It is unique to Northern Ontario and will complement the environmental education programming of the CEC.
The project includes a donation of the $30,000 telescope from the North Bay Astronomy Club.
“This telescope will see its ‘first light’ on October 24th,” said Dave Roscoe, President of the astronomy club. “Science is an ongoing process and the CEC was the perfect educational location for the telescope.”
Roscoe says there is no other telescope or observatory like this in Northern Ontario and “it is ideally suited for the Park.”
“The public will see the night sky like never before,” said Laura Kielpinski, Education Manager at the CEC.
“A scope this size gathers more light and allows for the sighting of objects further away. It is a dream come true and will complement all of our programs delivered to schools, the Park and visitors. We’re excited.”
Bill Steer, General Manager of the CEC approached the club two years ago to initiate the project.
Michael Gravelle, Minister of Northern Development and Mines said “The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation is pleased to invest $32,850 to help construct the open-roof building to house the telescope.”
The opening event is scheduled for the evening of Friday, Oct. 24th at the CEC.
See www.canadianecology.ca and go to the Events tab
