LearningCenters, Canada

Immerse yourself in a world of 20,000 aquatic animals and discover your own underwater adventure in the heart of downtown Toronto. Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada features North America’s longest underwater viewing tunnel with more than 5.7 million litres of water and over 100 interactive opportunities. Get up close and personal with several touch exhibits and soak in a live dive show daily. This awe-inspiring attraction consists of nine carefully curated galleries showcasing a cross section of saltwater and freshwater environments from around the world – starting with species from Toronto’s backyard, the Great Lakes basin. From the heart-pounding experience of Dangerous Lagoon, a football-field length acrylic viewing tunnel with moving glide-path sidewalk through sharks, green sea turtles, sawfish and moray eels; to the hypnotic dance of Pacific sea nettle jellyfish which are illuminated in an array of breathtaking colours from within the kreisel tank at Planet Jellies, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada will captivate Torontonians as well as guests from around the world! http://www.seetorontonow.com/listings/ripleys-aquarium-of-canada/#sm.0017houyxdtier210nr1h126u6a73

No trip to Toronto is complete without a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum — Canada’s largest museum showcasing art, culture, and nature from around the globe and across the ages. The ROM is home to a world-class collection of more than six million objects and specimens, featured in 40 gallery and exhibition spaces. Explore special exhibitions, as well as the Museum’s permanent collections of dinosaurs, South Asian art and culture, gems and minerals, ancient Egyptian treasures, biodiversity, and much more. http://www.seetorontonow.com/listings/royal-ontario-museum/#sm.0017houyxdtier210nr1h126u6a73

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) Collection features more than 100,000 great works of art, from cutting-edge contemporary to classic European masterpieces. View iconic paintings by the well-known Group of Seven as well as amazing art by established and emerging Indigenous, Inuit and Métis artists, sculptures, photographs, prints & drawings and so much more are on display in a beautiful building that itself is a work of art, with design details created by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. http://www.seetorontonow.com/listings/art-gallery-of-ontario/#sm.0017houyxdtier210nr1h126u6a73

Just 20 minutes from downtown Vancouver and the Vancouver International Airport, the Museum of Anthropology at UBC houses one of the world’s finest displays of Northwest Coast First Nations arts in a spectacular Arthur Erickson designed building overlooking mountains and sea. See magnificent carvings, weavings and contemporary artworks inside the soaring glass and concrete structure of the Museum’s Great Hall. Admire the world’s largest collection of works by acclaimed Haida artist Bill Reid, including his famous cedar sculpture The Raven and the First Men. Explore the Museum’s Multiversity Galleries where more than 9,000 objects from around the world are displayed. Visit the award-winning Koerner Ceramics Gallery, displaying a collection of European ceramics unique to North America. Stroll the Museum’s grounds, where monumental Haida houses, poles and Musqueam house posts capture the dramatic beauty of traditional Northwest Coast architecture and design. Enjoy a wide range of special exhibitions and public programs, including free guided gallery walks, visit the MOA Shop and relax in Café MOA. https://www.tourismvancouver.com/listings/museum-of-anthropology-at-ubc/17853/

Fieldcote is a cultural heritage centre with an emphasis on the collection, preservation and exhibition of local history, the promotion of fine arts and the celebration of natural heritage through beautiful landscaped gardens and walking trails. Explore ‘Stories From the Edge’, an exhibition celebrating the history of Ancaster. Set on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment, with a bounty of water and resources, Ancaster has attracted humans since the retreat of the last glacier over 10,000 years ago. Using 31 stories and artifacts, one for every year the museum has been open, this exhibition offers snapshots of Ancaster’s history from the earliest human occupants to present day. https://www.hamilton.ca/attractions/hamilton-civic-museums/fieldcote-memorial-park-museum

Burlington Heights, where Dundurn Castle and the Hamilton Military Museum now stand, was occupied by the British military from 1813 -1815. Built as a gate house by Sir Allan MacNab in the late 1830s atop a battery from the War of 1812, This building known as Battery Lodge, now houses The Hamilton Military Museum. https://www.hamilton.ca/attractions/hamilton-civic-museums/hamilton-military-museum

Witness the social and mechanical life of Canada’s early industrial revolution. Housed in a 150-year-old Waterworks, this National Historic Site preserves two 70-ton steam powered water pumping engines, perhaps the oldest surviving Canadian-built engines. The historic Hamilton Waterworks is a Civil and Power Engineering Landmark. The museum offers guided tours, various permanent and changing exhibits, and features special events for the whole family https://www.hamilton.ca/attractions/hamilton-civic-museums/hamilton-museum-steam-technology-national-historic-site

Discover one of the finest examples of an intact historic home in Canada during a guided tour with a costumed interpreter. Three generations of the McQuesten family lived at Whitehern from 1852 until 1968. Among the last generation were six children who never married. In 1959 the three surviving members of the family bequeathed the home to the City with all its original contents. It contains elements from many time periods – Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian – dating up to 1939 when the Honourable Thomas McQuesten was Minister of Highways. Explore the heritage of Victorian ideas and possessions that influenced life at Whitehern on the eve of World War II. https://www.hamilton.ca/attractions/hamilton-civic-museums/whitehern-historic-house-garden-national-historic-site

Visit this preserved early 19th century home, set on a hilltop overlooking the beautiful Dundas Valley. Explore the history of Enerals Griffin and other early Black settlers, and enjoy a walk along nearby trails. Griffin House host a variety of events, workshops and exhibitions throughout the year. https://www.hamilton.ca/attractions/hamilton-civic-museums/griffin-house-national-historic-site

The most popular museum in Québec City. A visitor-oriented museum with a participatory and interactive approach for stimulating wonderment and encouraging discovery. Magnificent exhibits of international calibre about Québec culture and history. Take part in the family workshops on current, historical or sometimes unusual topics. Guided tours available for some exhibits. https://www.quebecregion.com/en/businesses/attractions/museums/musee-de-la-civilisation/

A creative chocolate shop and a quaint small chocolate museum. Learn about the history of chocolate from Mayan times to this day. Ancient and modern accessories, chocolate-making techniques (video and view on the kitchen), and more. For chocolate lovers: little pieces of chocolate, a handmade selection of pure original chocolate bars cookies, brownies, cupcakes, cakes and hot chocolates. Summer: homemade ice cream dipped in chocolate, yogourt and sherbet. https://www.quebecregion.com/en/businesses/attractions/museums/erico-chocolaterie-patisserie/

The Huron-Wendat Museum presents one of the rarest collections emphasizing the wealth of the culture and the know-how of the Huron-Wendat. The Museum shares the same entrance as the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations. https://www.quebecregion.com/en/businesses/attractions/museums/musee-huron-wendat/

Through a 30-minute sound and light show, travel back in time to the foundation of Québec to revisit the six military sieges that shaped its history! This exciting historical period is brought to life with an impressive model of the city circa 1750. Located in the heart of Old Québec, start your visit to Québec City with a bang at the Musée du Fort! https://www.quebecregion.com/en/businesses/attractions/museums/musee-du-fort/

This interpretation centre is located at the historical and archeological site of the Château-Richer convents. Visit the permanent exhibitions on the history of one of the first French settlements in North America. Attractions also include the excavated foundations of the first two convents (built in 1694 and 1830), the reconstruction of a classroom from 1912 and temporary exhibitions on the cultural identity of the Côte-de-Beaupré. Do not forget to enjoy a delicious beverage in our coffee shop before leaving! https://www.quebecregion.com/en/businesses/attractions/historic-sites/aux-trois-couvents/

Travel back in time to experience the life of Montréal's first inhabitants and settlers at Pointe-à-Callière, Montréal Archaeology and History Complex. The birthplace of Montréal and a National Historic and Archaeological Site, Pointe-à-Callière presents centuries of history, from Indigenous settlements to the present day. The experience begins with an avant-garde multimedia show on the city’s history. Projected onto an incredible, immersive set space created especially for the show, Generations MTL will dazzle you with its technological wizardry and artistic sensibility. From seats overlooking impressive archaeological remains, get wrapped up in this captivating narrative and learn how, over the centuries, borrowings and exchanges helped forge the city’s identity, making it a true hub at the crossroads of Europe and North America. In addition to the permanent exhibitions where history comes to life through the innovative use of multimedia technologies, the museum presents temporary exhibits on the world's great civilizations, near and far, and a full calendar of cultural activities for the whole family. When it’s time to take a break, L’Arrivage Bistro on the second floor of the main building offers a delicious menu with an exceptional view of the Old Port. https://www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/museums-and-culture/pointe-calliere

At over a hundred years old and still going strong, the Montréal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) is more avant-garde and relevant than ever before. Driven by a daring and innovative approach, it has developed into a venerable museum complex revered by lovers of art, music and cinema from here and abroad. Founded in 1860, it was one of the first museums in North America to establish an encyclopedic collection. Today, it comprises over 43 000 works from Antiquity to modern day. Its five pavilions, each with a distinct vocation and architectural style, meld beautifully into the city’s urban fabric. The oldest of them all, the Michal and Renata Hornstein Pavilion, dates back to 1912. Its majestic marble staircase takes you to the Museum’s temporary exhibitions. https://www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/museums-and-culture/montreal-museum-fine-arts

Walk in the steps of important historical figures the likes of Benjamin Franklin and cross the threshold of the Château Ramezay, a prestigious residence from the 18th century that recounts over 500 years of history through numerous exhibits and extensive multimedia circuits. A portal to Montréal’s past and the first building in Québec classified as an historic monument, the Château Ramezay offers insight into the events of the pre-contact Amerindian era to the 20th century and demonstrates how our history was shaped by the Native People, the French, the British, and the Americans. A permanent collection of over 30,000 objects and an array of temporary exhibitions, intermingled with multimedia portrayals of historical figures telling fabulous tales about this centuries-old manor, bring 18th century New France to life for a modern audience. https://www.mtl.org/en/what-to-do/museums-and-culture/chateau-ramezay-museum

Calgary's newest natural wetland on the city's southeast border opened summer 2011. The 30-hectare park is named after former Mayor and Premier Ralph Klein. Learning gardens. Interpretive trails. Wetland viewing areas. Study stations. Environmental education centre includes classrooms and meeting rooms. Available for corporate functions, weddings and private bookings. The 30-hectare park on Calgary’s southeast edge offers learning gardens, a natural playground, interpretive trails and wetland viewing areas. The environmental education centre includes classrooms and meeting rooms. https://www.visitcalgary.com/places/ralph-klein-park-environmental-education-centre

TELUS Spark Science Centre is a space for people of all ages and abilities to let go and embrace the desire to explore science, technology, engineering, art and math. Exhibits and programs ignite a sense of wonder and excitement. Over 200 hands- on experiences and the largest Dome theatre in Western Canada. General admission covers all special exhibits, unlimited Dome shows and the award winning outdoor Brainasium park. Enjoy a bite in the Spark Eatery and find unique gifts for that science geek in your life in the Spark Store. Spark Science Centre is a registered charity, and every dollar you donate empowers a child, a student, a parent, or a new Canadian to discover a world inspired by curiosity. Drink out of a toilet! Lay on a bed of nails! Live science demos, amazing Facilitators and an open studio where you can create and explore. Currently showing Body Worlds: Animal Inside Out, as well as the new Dome show, Great Bear Rainforest! https://www.visitcalgary.com/things-to-do/attractions/telus-spark-science-centre

Enter the heart of the economic system and explore fun, hands-on, interactive exhibits that cover everything from how people’s expectations affect the health of an economy to how inflation targeting works (hint: you get to fly a rocket ship!). Mixed in with all the high-tech inter actives are informative videos, multimedia stations and old-school exhibits featuring centuries’ worth of economic artifacts: from shells once used as money, to bank notes made from tree bark, together with their history and lore.Stimulating. Engaging. Most of all, fun. Come join us and explore the Bank’s role in the economy and your own, very important, place in it. https://www.ottawatourism.ca/member/bank-of-canada-museum/

Canada is all about nature. The beautiful vistas and wildlife you expect to see, you WILL see at the Canadian Museum of Nature. Just minutes from Parliament Hill, the Museum features world class galleries: See iconic mammals, Canada’s original collection of dinosaur fossils; an enormous blue whale skeleton; and a new Arctic Gallery, opening June 2017. 3D movies, special exhibitions, guided tours and workshops available. https://www.ottawatourism.ca/member/canadian-museum-of-nature/

Housed in Ottawa's oldest stone building, the BYTOWN MUSEUM explores Ottawa’s history from the early years of Rideau Canal construction, through the rough and tumble days of Bytown, to its emergence as Canada's capital and beyond. Located in one of the most picturesque areas of the city, the BYTOWN MUSEUM offers family events, a postcard scavenger hunt, new exhibitions, programming and guided tours. Included with admission is a six-language audio guide available in English, French, German, Spanish, Mandarin and Japanese. Just steps from the Ottawa Locks on the Rideau Canal, the BYTOWN MUSEUM is the perfect place to begin your visit to Nation’s Capital! https://www.ottawatourism.ca/member/bytown-museum/

The Farm in the Heart of the City! The Museum offers programs and exhibitions on Canada’s agricultural heritage, food literacy, and on the benefits and relationship of agricultural science and technology to Canadians’ everyday lives. Visit the animal barns and explore the captivating exhibitions. Celebrate a Canadian crop in the Museum’s newest exhibition — Canola! Seeds of Innovation. Other exhibitions include Tractors, Food Preservation: The Science You Eat (presented by Nestlé Canada), and Discovery Park. Programming includes special weekend theme events, school programs, summer day camps, interpretive tours, and demonstrations. All admission prices do not include applicable taxes and are subject to change without notice. https://www.ottawatourism.ca/member/canada-agriculture-and-food-museum/

The Museum presents the complete story of Canada’s rich aviation and aerospace heritage. The Collection itself consists of more than 130 aircraft and artifacts (propellers, engines) from both civil and military service. The most extensive aviation collection in Canada, it is also considered one of the finest aviation museums in the world. Visitors can explore the story of flight through demonstrations, guided tours, and more! Museum Highlights: Largest surviving piece of the famous Avro Arrow; the original Canadarm used on the Endeavour space shuttle; Lancaster WWII bomber; Life in Orbit: The International Space Station exhibition. https://www.ottawatourism.ca/member/canada-aviation-and-space-museum/

The all-new Canada Science and Technology Museum provides a highly digital experience for the whole family – igniting visitors with a passion for science and inspiring the next generation of Canadian innovators. After undergoing an $80.5-million renewal of its entire building, the museum features over 7,400 m2 (80,000 sq. ft.) of redesigned exhibition space, including an 850 m2 (9,200 sq. ft.) temporary exhibition hall to accommodate travelling exhibitions from around the world. Eleven new exhibitions – including the ZOOOM Children’s Innovation Zone, Artifact Alley and the Exploratek maker studio – as well as long-time visitor favourites, like locomotives and the Crazy Kitchen, delight visitors young and old. Museum highlights: A modern, spacious facility featuring 11 brand-new exhibitions including Artifact Alley, the ZOOOM Children’s Innovation Zone, the Exploratek maker studio, and three new apps. Long-time visitor favourites – the Crazy Kitchen and locomotives – will also make a comeback to the delight of visitors. A Demo Stage offers exciting, participatory science demonstrations. In addition, the museum has the capacity to showcase international travelling exhibitions from around the world. https://www.ottawatourism.ca/member/canada-science-and-technology-museum/

Gorgeous architecture and world-renowned exhibitions convene to create Canada’s most-visited museum. Located on the banks of the Ottawa River — with a stunning view of Parliament Hill, the National Gallery of Canada, and downtown Ottawa — the Canadian Museum of History (formerly the Canadian Museum of Civilization) provides detailed insight into 20,000 years of human history. Let your eyes wander high into the sky as you take in the world’s largest indoor collection of totem poles, walk through the largest and most comprehensive exhibition about Canadian history ever created, and sit back to enjoy a CINÉ+ film. Have your little ones in town. They’ll love the on-site Canadian Children’s Museum, filled with hands-on games and exhibits. https://www.ottawatourism.ca/ottawa-insider/canadian-museum-of-history/

The Canadian War Museum is more than a museum that is internationally renowned for its symbolic architecture; it is known for inspiring and touching stories. Canada's rich military history is showcased through artifacts, personal stories, artwork, photos and interactive presentations. Tour the extensive permanent exhibitions and expand your knowledge of the conflicts that shaped Canada, Canadians and the world. Rest and reflect in Memorial Hall. Discover the Museum's fascinating architectural theme. And chat with a veteran to let history come alive. https://www.ottawatourism.ca/member/canadian-war-museum/

Arachnophobes rejoice, the 30-foot spider outside of the National Gallery of Canada is not real! Maman, the sculpture created by Louise Bourgeois, complete with 26 white marble eggs under its belly, welcomes you to the National Gallery of Canada. Once inside the Gallery, you’ll discover one of the greatest art institutions in the world. It’s home to more than 40,000 works of art (by over 6,000 artists), home to the most comprehensive collection of Canadian art, including a large number by the Group of Seven, and strong collections of Indigenous, Asian, and International works. The Gallery hosts special exhibits throughout the year that bring light to a specific topic, discipline, or renowned and up-and-coming artists. https://www.ottawatourism.ca/ottawa-insider/national-gallery-of-canada/

Designed by architect extraordinaire Antoine Predock, Canada’s newest, most eye-catching attraction dominates the Winnipeg skyline, shining like a beacon. Inside an immersive experience that you can’t possibly shake awaits as 11 powerful, interactive and awe-inspiring exhibits gradually climb to the CMHR’s pinnacle, the Tower of Hope (which provides a stunning view of the city). An ambitious museum meant to foster dialogue and promote change for a better world; the CMHR provides a stirring account of the human experience unlike anything you’ve ever witnessed. https://humanrights.ca/

How many places do you know that can take you from the towering dinosaurs of the Cretaceous Period, to across the cosmos through space and time, to the buffalo laden prairie plains all under one roof? If your answer is none, then you haven’t been to the Manitoba Museum. The nine permanent galleries in this award-winning heritage and edu-tainment centre will enthral kids and adults alike; whether you are catching a Planetarium show featuring one of the world’s most advanced projection systems, to viewing some of Canada’s most important historical artifacts in the Hudson’s Bay Company Museum Collection, the Manitoba Museum is sure to please. https://manitobamuseum.ca/main/

One of Winnipeg’s most beautiful buildings, its reflective glassy exterior is a sight to behold at sundown, glowing under an orange prairie sky. On the inside you’ll find guided tours that will have you holding a gold bar worth more than $750,000 (it’s really quite heavy), ogling over the Olympic gold medals that were made for Vancouver 2010 and witnessing coins beingproduced for 75 different countries. A trip to the Mint is surely worth every penny. https://www.mint.ca/store/template/home.jsp

Six hundred-forty acres of pristine prairie beauty are waiting to welcome you to this natural oasis, which is located right inside the city. In the summer feel the wind in your hair canoeing or sailing on one of FortWhyte’s several lakes; in the fall sip a locally brewed beer on their restaurant patio while witnessing North America’s largest animal (the bison) roam in its natural habitat as migrating birds fill the sky; in winter go cross country skiing on their many trails or take the kids out for a ridiculously fun day of sliding on the Richardson Rrrun Toboggan slide. No matter what the season, there is always an adventure to be had at FortWhyte Alive. https://www.fortwhyte.org/

Transport yourself back to early 20th century Boomtown - from the general store overflowing with everything from nails to gingham, to be blacksmith shop ringing with the sound of the hammer striking the anvil. Explore the world of alternative fuel vehicles with the Fuelled by Innovation exhibit and Saskatoon's only vintage car collection. Don't miss Winning the Prairie Gamble - the story of Saskatchewan farm family as they grow and change over 100 years. Take your breath away - step into the WDM Saskatoon. A visit to Boomtown lets you walk through time. Saskatchewan inspired stories unfold everywhere as you journey from 1910 to the present. https://www.wdm.ca/stoon.html