BUSINESS PLAN 2018-19 Contents Page Executive Summary ........................................................................................................ 2 Appendices Mandate and Vision ....................................................................................................... 8 Strategic Directions ......................................................................................................... 9 Appendix A: Board and Committee Organizational Environmental Scan ...................................................................................................... 14 Chart Review of 2017-18 – Strategic Priorities and Goals .................................................. 25 Strategic Priority #1 ................................................................................................ 25 Appendix B: Staff Organizational Chart Strategic Priority #2 ................................................................................................ 35 Strategic Priority #3 ................................................................................................ 40 Appendix C: Business Plan Financials Review of 2017-18 – Operational Performance ........................................................ 47 Operating Forecast (through 2020-21) Review of 2017-18 – Capital Activities ...................................................................... 52 Attendance and FTE Forecast (through Current and Forthcoming Plans 2018-19 – Strategic Priorities and Goals .......... 54 2020-21) Strategic Priority #1 ................................................................................................ 54 Proposed Transfer Payment Cash Flow Strategic Priority #2 ................................................................................................ 60 Strategic Priority #3 ................................................................................................ 63 Appendix D: Asset Management Plan Strategic Priority #4 ................................................................................................ 67 Strategic Priority #5 ................................................................................................ 70 Appendix E: Risk Assessment Current and Forthcoming Plans 2018-19 – Operational Performance ................. 75 Current and Forthcoming Plans 2018-19 – Capital Activities ............................... 79 Appendix F: Performance Measures Contingency Plan .......................................................................................................... 80 Cash Flow ....................................................................................................................... 81 Appendix G: Strategic Planning Engagement Activities Resources Needed to Meet Priorities and Goals ....................................................... 82 Human Resources ......................................................................................................... 86 Communications Plan – 2018-2019 ........................................................................... 87 Three-Year Operating Financial Forecast – 2018-19 to 2020-21 ........................... 91 Science North is an agency of the Government of Ontario. Three-Year Capital Forecast – 2018-19 to 2019-20 .................................................. 93 IMAX® is a registered trademark of IMAX Corporation. Information Technology (IT)/Electronic Service Delivery (ESD) Plan ................ 99 Initiatives Involving Third Parties ............................................................................ 101 Science North 2018-19 Business Plan, January 15, 2018 (revised) 1 Executive Summary Science North has developed a new strategic plan for the next 5 years (2018-2023). This plan builds on the successes of the past 5 years and the significant gains achieved on its vision, purpose and priorities. The 2018-19 Business Plan is the first over the next five years to focus on goals, actions and results. The plan, approved by the Board, will focus the organization’s resources to drive success, capitalize on its strengths and opportunities, and overcome challenges. This plan will benefit Science North audiences and clients including communities throughout Northern Ontario, partners, stakeholders and funders, including the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport. Science North is Canada’s 2nd largest science centre and Dynamic Earth is the 8th largest, in a city that is the 28th largest and the hub for Northern Ontario. In addition to delivering informal science education experiences to its audiences, Science North plays a significant role in bolstering the local, Northern and provincial economies through tourism and job creation. Science North is faced with unique challenges - the geographic region that the organization serves, the market size, changing demographics, slow economic growth and external influences on the workforce. Additionally, Science North delivers on the high expectations of the Centre’s visitors and customers, while maintaining fiscal and accountable responsibility. The organization is tasked to find new and creative ways to compete to achieve the Science North Vision. This Business Plan provides an update on progress made in 2017-18, as well as planned activities and targets for the 2018-19 fiscal year. Science North conducted extensive internal and external research and has developed action plans to build on opportunities, mitigate challenges and realize its new priorities and goals. 2017-18 Highlights Science North has focused on implementing a strong 2017-18 business plan to drive the organization forward in keeping with its 2013-18 Strategic Plan, and to build and serve its audiences. Projected achievements on all performance measures in the 2017-18 business plan are outlined in the section entitled “Review of 2017-18– Strategic Priorities and Goals”. Below are highlights of projected achievements for the 2017-18 business cycle. Science North, Northern Ontario’s Science Centre Science North’s presence in Northern Ontario is strong. In 2017-18, record attendance was achieved in summer science camp experiences, outreach visits in Northern Ontario and in First Nation communities, in teacher workshops in the North and in partnership-led experiences such as science festivals and Northern Nature Trading experiences; Science North was truly Northern Ontario’s science centre. With Ontario 150 funding and financial support from TD Bank, the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) and the federal government’s NSERC Promoscience program, Science North outreach staff will have overachieved its Indigenous Initiatives goals of bringing outreach programs to First Nations schools and communities by more than doubling the number of program delivery days and surpassing the expected number of First Nations students involved in Science North programs. We’ve been able to maximize program delivery in the North almost doubling the number of school program days and are expected to reach 2.5 times more students than proposed. Science North’s presence continues to flourish as the staff from the Thunder Bay satellite office continues to provide the Thunder Bay community with science experiences through Nerd Nites, science clubs for the Boys and Girls Club participants, March Break, PA day Science North 2018-19 Business Plan, January 15, 2018 (revised) 2 and holiday programs for kids as well as a science festival. Summer Science Camps again reached an all-time high during summer 2017 with 2935 participants between the ages of 4 and 14 in 34 communities. As a growth measure, 1,621 youth participated in 2009 and 2,632 in 2016. Science North staff continue to work with partners in several Northern Ontario communities to provide a more involved or permanent presence. Partners in Kenora, Red Lake, Thunder Bay, Timmins, Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay deliver a year-round nature trading experience in their centres, supported by Science North through sharing of expertise, program content, workshop delivery and trading supplies. A network connecting the Northern Nature Trading experiences to each other and to Science North and Dynamic Earth extends the experience across the North. In addition, science festivals in Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie and North Bay involve many local partners, companies and organizations to bring the community together through several science experiences to learn more and have fun with local sciences, technology and research topics. Attracting Students to the Science Centres and Attractions For over 30 years, Science North has provided hands-on, curriculum-linked educational experiences in Sudbury and across Northern Ontario. Support from the Ministry of Education has been instrumental in the development of teacher resources including lesson plans and teacher and classroom videos. In 2017-18, Science North education staff will have delivered 40 teacher workshops reaching close to 700 teachers, a record number of workshops across Northern Ontario and a few southern Ontario communities. This past summer, Science North hosted Summer Learning days for 30 teachers from the Toronto District School Board. Feedback from this group has been strong and Science North programs were well received. This very positive feedback on the experience provided will serve Science North well as the organization seeks to expand on work done with school boards and teachers. A great indication of Science North’s positioning as the educational resource for educators is the decision by all four