Toon Town is one of many exhibits available to visitors at Saskatchewan's first children's museum Nutrien Wonderhub. (Nutrien Wonderhub/Facebook)

By paNOW Staff

Grand Opening

Nutrien Wonderhub opens doors to public

Jun 28, 2019 | 10:00 AM

An exciting new experience for children and families with a focus on learning and engagement has opened its doors in Saskatoon.

Nutrien Wonderhub is Saskatchewan’s first children’s museum, and one of only nine children’s museums in the country.

“All I can say is that we are caffeinated and chomping at the bit to get kids in here. It’s an interesting mix of nerves and excitement and emotional feelings, I think there will be a few tears of joy today for sure,” Amanda McReynolds Doran, executive director with the museum, told paNOW.

“This organization has existed for 17 years in some form or fashion. It’s been a long journey … this is the culmination of a lot of emotion and hard work.”

McReynolds Doran added her hope for the opening day was to simply see children having fun, and exploring the newly designed facility, while sharing the tactile and visceral learning experience with their parents.

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Designed by Kindrachuck Agret Architecture, based in Saskatoon, and Argyle Design, based in New York City, the facility features three floors of exhibits over more than 25,000 square feet.

The Wonderhub, formerly known as the Children’s Discovery Museum, was first proposed to city hall in 2008. Renovations to the Mendel building began in October 2017.

“A children’s museum is designed to create learning experiences through play and is driven by the curiosity of the child,” McReynolds Doran said in a previous release.

“In our case, Nutrien Wonderhub is designed for children to play and explore sound, movement, texture, and so much more. When children combine a tactical, immersive, hands-on experience with learning concepts and play, it’s the kind of learning that sticks.”

A total of 12 permanent exhibits are available for the public to explore, ranging in themes from Northern Lights – which pays tribute to Saskatchewan’s signature skies, with motion-activated colours cast on the gallery wall, to Toon Town – an ever-changing townscape designed to give children control over installations.

Saskatchewan’s first children’s museum, Nutrien Wonderhub has 12 permanent exhibits, each designed to spark creativity and a tactile experience for children and adults alike. (Brady Bateman/paNOW Staff)

Other installations include: North Woods and Gathering Place, Little Bridges, Cosmic Commotion, Boxes O’ Fun, Airways, Blast Off, Discovery Mine, as well as Create Space and the Workshop.

The opening ceremony for the facility kicked off at 8 a.m. with media exploring the museum and its exhibits, with the public grand opening at 10 a.m.

A number of distinguished attendees took part in the opening ceremonies, including members from the department of Canadian heritage and the federal government of Canada, and a number of executives with the Wonderhub.

“What an exciting day for our city. You know the Margaret Mead quote ‘Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. I thought about that quote when I was thinking of what to say today,'” Mayor of Saskatoon Charlie Clark said during the opening ceremony.

“Having this museum as an anchor for families and kids of all ages is incredibly important for the future of our city.”

A variety of pricing options will be available for families, starting at $8 per person for a daily rate, $200 for a annual family membership – which covers up to six people – and individual memberships for only $50 per year.

Before the 10 a.m. grand opening, more than 100 people already lined up outside of the facility’s front doors, with dozens of children excitingly awaiting for the ribbon to be cut, and the doors to be opened.

“We’re actually originally from Saskatoon. We live in Victoria, B.C. now, but we’re here visiting and my mom told me we had to come check this place out,” Morgan Clark, who was in attendance of the opening with her mother, husband and two children, said.

“I was told that this is really supposed to be a place where kids can touch and play with every single thing and that’s something that is really important when you have two toddlers.”

The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group is proud to be a supporter of Nutrien Wonderhub through its paNOW, meadowlakeNOW, battlefordsNOW, larongeNOW and northeastNOW divisions.

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panews@jpbg.ca