Timmins Science Village to open in 2008.The drivers behind a Timmins-based regional science centre were waiting on a consultant's feasibility study The analysis of a problem to determine if it can be solved effectively. The operational (will it work?), economical (costs and benefits) and technical (can it be built?) aspects are part of the study. Results of the study determine whether the solution should be implemented. due out in late January before fine-tuning the details of how the final project will take shape. For six years, a community group of educators as well as industry and business professionals known as Science Timmins, has had ambitious plans to establish a Science Village with satellite locations across northeastern Ontario Northeastern Ontario is the region within the Canadian province of Ontario which lies north and east of Lakes Superior and Huron. Northeastern Ontario consists of Algoma District, Sudbury District, Cochrane District, Timiskaming District, Nipissing District, Manitoulin . The report, which was expected by Jan. 31, will examine the feasibility of a permanent year-round science centre in the city. It would be linked to scientific 'pods' in various communities by a broadband network. Three firms, Planned Approach, J. L. Richards and Associates and Electronic Commercial Management Group, are preparing a business plan, some preliminary engineering and design work, and identifying sources of funding support and expertise. The $100,000 study was funded by contributions from FedNor and the District School Board Ontario North East District School Board Ontario North East serves northeastern Ontario from Hearst in the north to Temagami in the south. It manages the following schools:
Antoine Garwah, the project's lead, says the consultants are eyeballing five potential sites in Timmins and at other locations in Hearst, Kapuskasing, Iroquois Falls, Kirkland Lake Kirkland Lake, mining town, E Ont., Canada. An important gold-mining center, gold was discovered there in 1911 and again in the 1980s at Harker. The mining of iron ore and tourism are two other important industries. and the Tri-Towns/Temiskaming Shores area. The project's price tag, expected to be in the $5-million to $10-million range, would create between 50 and 80 full-time jobs across the region plus scores of part-time seasonal work for students. The proponents want to start construction in Timmins sometime in 2006 with an eye to opening in 2008. With an emphasis on delivering "real life" science to the masses, the Science Village concept would be comprised of themed 'huts' covering topics such as mining, forestry, meteorology meteorology, branch of science that deals with the atmosphere of a planet, particularly that of the earth, the most important application of which is the analysis and prediction of weather. , health sciences and the environment. Similar in some ways to Greater Sudbury's Science North, plans call for interactive, hands-on activities, but with travelling exhibits that would rotate in towns throughout the North. "We'll bring science to the communities rather than the community going to see science," says Garwah, a retired Timmins school teacher and professional engineer. All the regional sites would be connected by the latest in Internet technologies and video conferencing See videoconferencing. (communications) video conferencing - A discussion between two or more groups of people who are in different places but can see and hear each other using electronic communications. capabilities for various science-based exhibits, demonstrations and interactive forums with guest presenters. Once the report is in, Garwah says their board of directors will decide on programming possibilities, activities and exhibits before formally approaching potential funding partners for support. No official pitch has been made, but those potential sponsors "know about our project." The goal of the Science Village from day one will be achieving financial self-sufficiency, says Garwah. Their consultants are "spreading the word" and meeting potential partners to determine the extent of their support. In making presentations to area school boards and municipal councils, Garwah says every organization has greeted the Science Village concept with enthusiastic support. "So far we have had very positive comments and many are willing to hop on Verb 1. hop on - get up on the back of; "mount a horse" bestride, climb on, jump on, mount up, get on, mount move - move so as to change position, perform a nontranslational motion; "He moved his hand slightly to the right" board once they know how much (the project costs)." The yet-to-be-constructed centre's board of directors includes industry representation from Tembec, Ontario Power Generation Ontario Power Generation (OPG) is a public company whose shares are wholly owned by the Government of Ontario. It is responsible for approximately 70% of the electricity generation in the province of Ontario, Canada [1]. , Falconbridge and the Lake Abitibi Lake Abitibi (French: lac Abitibi) is a lake in northeastern Ontario and western Quebec, Canada. The lake is separated in two distinct portions by a short narrows, making it actually 2 lakes. Its total area is 931 km², and net area 903 km² [1]. Model Forest. Organizers are counting on major sponsorship contributions from public and private sectors as well as for in-kind contributions. They hope to borrow industry and research professionals on secondment Noun 1. secondment - a speech seconding a motion; "do I hear a second?" endorsement, indorsement, second agreement - the verbal act of agreeing 2. to develop some of the exhibits. The Science concept was born in 1998 when Timmins hosted a national Science Olympics fair. Organizers have been searching for a permanent home for regional science fairs and demonstrations ever since. Students would form the main client base, but the centre could be developed as a major tourist attraction, says Garwah. In hoping to establish some complimentary linkages with Science North and the Ontario Science Centre Ontario Science Centre (OSC) is a science museum in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, near the Don Valley Parkway about 11 km northeast of downtown on Don Mills Road just south of Eglinton Avenue East. It is built down the side of a wooded ravine formed by one branch of the Don River. , he envisions creating a Northern science excursion tour for visiting school groups from southern Ontario, combining other unique outdoor activities such as survival training. www.trsf.org By IAN ROSS Northern Ontario Business Northern Ontario Business is a Canadian magazine, which publishes monthly in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. The magazine covers business news and issues in Northern Ontario. |
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