Exploration Place

Exploration Place celebrates one year after renovation

Nov 15, 2023 | 12:20 PM

PRINCE GEORGE— It’s been a year since the completion of the Living Evolutions project and The Exploration Place is celebrating the facility’s successful reopening and the 20-year anniversary of CEO Tracy Calogheros.

“Tracy’s leadership has been instrumental to The Exploration Place’s success for the past 20 years, and her vision helped make the recent Living Evolution renovation project a reality,” says The Exploration Place Board of Trustees Chair Helena Trudel. “On behalf of the Board of Trustees past and present, it is my honour to recognize Tracy’s three decades of service to The Exploration Place, including 20 years as CEO.”

The renovation included the new Gaia Hall, Link Gallery, Mosaic Gallery, and Origins Kitchen, as well as expanding the George Phillips Exhibit Gallery and Ted Williams History Centre which has seen an increase in the number of visitors to the centre.

“In an ever-changing world, museums and science centres are a central pillar of civil society,” Calogheros says. “The plan laid out in Convergence reflects The Exploration Place’s ability to adapt to societal shifts.”

In addition, The Exploration Place has announced its new five-year plan leading up to the 60th anniversary of the museum. The plan is centered around the organization’s new mission “to provide a local lens on our evolving world by fostering discovery and engagement.”

The five pillars of the plan are:

  • Improving communications and relationships with the community by engaging with feedback from visitors and amplifying their presence.
  • Truth and Reconciliation by maintaining and building their relationship with Lheidli T’enneh and other First Nations as well as increasing Indigenous programming through courses and cultural exhibits.
  • Recruiting and retaining more staff by providing on-the-job training and ensuring employees have competitive development and benefits.
  • Creating diverse programming & revenue generation by ensuring continued programming for adults and expanding science-related programming for kids and youth.
  • Improving curatorial & facility access by making the facilities more environmentally friendly, incorporate more kid-friendly instillation, and expand kids’ programming.