An agency of the Government of Ontario 2015–2016 ANNUAL REPORT Our Vision We will be the leader among science centres in providing inspirational, educational and entertaining science experiences. Our Purpose We inspire people of all ages to be engaged with the science in the world around them. Our Mandate • Offer a program of science learning across Northern Ontario • Operate a science centre • Operate a mining technology and earth sciences centre • Sell consulting services, exhibits and media productions to support the centre’s development Our Professional Values We Are…Accountable, Innovative Leaders We Have…Respect, Integrity and Teamwork Table of Contents 4 Message from the Chair and Chief Executive Officer 6 Fast Facts 8 Spotlight: Economic Impact 10 Spotlight: Serving Northern Ontario 12 Spotlight: Ontario Employer Designation 13 Spotlight: Focus on Leadership 14 Our 5-year Strategic Priorities 17 Strategic Priority 1: Great and Relevant Science Experiences 27 Strategic Priority 2: A Customer-Focused Culture of Operational Excellence 37 Strategic Priority 3: Long Term Financial Stability 46 Science North Funders, Donors and Sponsors 49 Science North Board of Trustees and Committee Members 50 Science North Staff Appendix: Audited Financial Statements Message from the Chair and Chief Executive Officer 2015-16 marked the third year in Science North’s and bring in a wider range of topics allows five-year strategic plan. We’re proud of the Science North to strategically expand organization’s progress in meeting its strategic programming to appeal to a broader audience, priorities and goals and delivering on Science including adults, young families and the teenage North’s mandate. Science North continues to focus demographic - an important factor in ensuring on delivering top-notch science experiences, great long-term sustainability. customer service, building a sustainable change culture and financial stability. Here are but a few • Science North, Dynamic Earth and its attractions highlights of the past year. offered high quality educational experiences to visiting students. In 2015-16, a total of 40,145 • Visitors flocked to highly engaging special students from Greater Sudbury and from exhibitions hosted at the science centres out-of-town engaged in school programs, live including Imaginate and Ice Age Mammals at science shows and specialty experiences. Science North and King Tutankhamun: Treasures from the Pharaoh’s Tomb at Dynamic Earth. • In June 2015, Science North celebrated the The King Tutankhamun exhibit experience was 5th anniversary of its base in Thunder Bay, augmented by ancillary workshops, programs established to facilitate the delivery of science and presentations and was especially successful camps and outreach programs to Northwestern at driving older visitor and local demographic Ontario. We were thrilled to welcome Premier attendance. In March 2016 Megalodon: Wynne as a special guest at this event, as well Largest Shark that Ever Lived, a paleontology- as other dignitaries and stakeholders. Science based travelling exhibition, launched at Dynamic North has a mandate to serve all of Northern Earth for a six month run. Ontario. A permanent base in the Northwest has enabled Science North to engage more Northern • The multi-year expansion of the visitor experience Ontarians in science learning experiences on at Dynamic Earth continued. In November a more consistent basis. Staff working out of 2015, ground was officially broken for the start the Thunder Bay base regularly visit communities of construction of Dynamic Earth’s earth sciences west of Wawa, all the way to the Manitoba border, and mining themed outdoor science park. including remote First Nations communities. Construction continued late into the season Over the past 5 years, outreach staff based at allowing the team to make much progress Science North in Sudbury and Thunder Bay have towards a planned opening date of summer engaged with nearly 400,000 people in 2016. Northern Ontario. • The Science North IMAX® Theatre underwent an • Science North delivered programs in elementary important renovation to re-launch in February schools in First Nations communities including 2016 as one of only four new IMAX digital some in remote fly-in communities. The centre’s laser theatres in science centres and museums “Bluecoats” (science staff) engaged with 1,785 throughout North America. This important students through 22 program days in 15 First transformation to IMAX laser capability allows Nations communities. During this fiscal year, Science North to grow its film releases Science North also visited the remote First dramatically and increase programming. Nations communities of Kingfisher Lake, Sachigo The ability to change film titles more frequently Lake, Sandy Lake, Wunnumin Lake and Muskrat 4 Dam. Throughout summer 2015, Science North of Intent and three Memorandums of staff visited Seine River, Wikwemikong, Understanding with Chinese organizations; Magnetawan First Nation, Naicatchewenin First including the Hong Kong Science Museum, Nation, Long Lake #58 and Fort Frances to the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum engage First Nations kids and youth in science and the Soong Ching Ling Foundation of Beijing. camp activities over a total of 18 days. Premier Wynne, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade Michael Chan • Science North science camp programs were and Minister of Economic Development, delivered in 29 Northern Ontario communities Employment and Infrastructure Brad Duguid during summer 2015. This included 17 witnessed these signings. communities in Northeastern Ontario and 12 in Northwestern Ontario. 2,284 children • The Larger than Life Gala, Science North’s fifth between the ages of 4 and 14 experienced these annual fundraising gala, was a great success with interactive science camps. 347 guests in attendance and nearly $64,000 • A science festival was held for the first time in raised. Funds raised through the Gala allow Sault Ste. Marie in spring 2015. The Sault Ste. Science North to create new and exciting Marie Science Festival was a collaborative led experiences for visitors through exhibit by Science North with seven partners: Algoma development. University, Canadian Bushplane Heritage • With respect to Science North’s workforce, Centre, Entomica, Invasive Species Centre, talent management and deployment, succession Natural Resources Canada – Canadian Forest planning and accelerated leadership development Service, Sault College and the Sault Ste. Marie continued to be a focus, with senior leaders Innovation Centre. Well over 2,500 participants working together to ensure workforce plans of all ages were engaged in science and learning aligned with strategic priorities. Science North’s Scott Lund throughout the weeklong festival. participation in the Northern Leadership Program Chair, Board of Trustees (NLP) continues to play a pivotal role in • During spring/summer 2015, Science North’s addressing succession planning challenges Wildlife Rescue special exhibition toured four and leadership capacity at Science North. Northern Ontario communities. In partnership A major focus for 2015-16 was laying the with the Lake of the Woods Discovery Centre groundwork for a leadership series at Science through City of Kenora, with Chippewa Park North to be led and delivered by Science North through the City of Thunder Bay, with the Hockey NLP graduates. Heritage North through the City of Kirkland Lake and through the Sault Ste. Marie Science Festival • An economic impact study completed by TCI Partners, Science North involved close to 15,000 Management Consultants, officially released visitors in hands-on science. at an event at Science North in February 2016, demonstrates that Science North has played • Science North is working with six Northern a significant role in bolstering the local, regional organizations to provide a permanent and provincial economies through tourism and Northern Nature Trading (NNT) experience in job creation. their communities. NNT experiences have been established at the Canadian Bushplane Heritage In addition to a highly committed and dedicated Guy Labine Centre in Sault Ste. Marie, the Red Lake Regional workforce, including our staff and volunteers, Chief Executive Officer Heritage Centre, Science Timmins, the Lake of Science North also has tremendous support from the Woods Discovery Centre in Kenora, the its partners, donors and funders. Working together, Chamber of Commerce in North Bay, and the we’ve achieved great successes and Science North Mary J. Black Public Library Branch in has continued to effectively deliver on its mandate Thunder Bay. for the benefit of those we serve. On behalf of our workforce and Board of Trustees, we’d like to thank • Science North participated by invitation in the all those who’ve played a part in these successes, Ontario Premier’s Business Mission to China including the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport in November 2015. During this mission, Science who works with us in a spirit of collaboration and North CEO Guy Labine formally signed one Letter partnership. Looking forward to the future! 5 Fast Facts (April 1, 2015 - March 31, 2016) Memberships Memberships 5,413 General Memberships 5,347 Corporate Memberships 66 Total 5,413 Admissions Science North Science Centre (including Special Exhibits Hall) 150,685 IMAX® Theatre 56,529 Planetarium 21,493 Admissions Dynamic Earth 56,275 Total 284,982 284,982 Education Programs - School Groups Science North Science