Edmonton's nature centre officially reopens after $340K renovation
The John Janzen Nature Centre officially reopened Wednesday with more than $340,000 in renovations after a two-year closure.
The nature centre initially closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and then remained closed for renovations which included a new exhibit room and a refreshed Tegler Discovery Zone.
"It was the perfect time to get those projects all moving forward, and with us being closed to the public, it didn't disrupt the experience so we were able to get it done in a really efficient way," said Gary Dewar, director of the Edmonton Valley Zoo and special facilities for the City of Edmonton.
The new exhibit room features critters like garter snakes, goldfish, a Pacman frog and an axolotl.
Other updates include new signage installed along the Birch Tree Trail behind the facility, updates to the green roof and observation beehive.
"It now will give kids a chance to see, within that particular discovery room, they're actually going to the bees coming in, and you can see the hive itself through glass," he said. "It's really amazing."
The John Janzen Nature Centre opened in 1976 and underwent renovations in 2011 before the most recent refresh.
David Merino and his two-year-old son Rafael spent Wednesday morning at the nature centre.
"Everything looks very flashy with colours, which is good for kids," said Merino. "And there's so many different things to catch his attention long enough for me to read what's on the walls."
The president of the Edmonton Nature Centres Foundation said the facility is a great way to connect kids with nature.
"It shaped my career, I work in the environment and that started off with me coming here," said Victor Bachmann. "To see that in the next generation is really important."
"It's really about making sure kids understand nature and their environment," said Dewar. "They're having so much fun yet there's an educational message underlying it all and that's I think what's so powerful about this facility."
The renovations were fully funded by the Edmonton Nature Centres Foundation.
John Janzen Nature Centre is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and on statutory holidays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are available at the door or online.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Jessica Robb
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.