The Ontario government is providing $650,000 through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation to help build a new interactive water ecosystems exhibit at Science North in Sudbury.
Funding and project scope
The contribution supplements a federal investment of $650,000 announced by FedNor in December 2025 and is part of a project budgeted at $1.9 million. Science North says the Woven by Water exhibit will combine play-based learning with content that foregrounds Indigenous perspectives on water and northern ecosystems.
| Source | Amount |
|---|---|
| NOHFC (Ontario) | $650,000 |
| FedNor (federal) | $650,000 |
| Total project budget | $1.9 million |
Exhibit design and learning aims
Science North describes Woven by Water as an immersive space that will physically link two levels of the centre and encourage visitors to explore northern ecosystems. Planned features include a climbing element designed to promote learning through movement, a feature simulating a heron’s view of a wetland, a wild rice display demonstrating harvest techniques and cultural importance, and an interactive digital projection showcasing aquatic species. An accessible workshop area is also included in the plans.
Voices from government and the centre
“Our government is making investments to ensure people continue to enjoy the attractions that have helped make Northern Ontario a great place to live and visit,”
said George Pirie, Ontario’s Minister of Northern Economic Development and Growth, in a government release. The statement tied the funding to tourism and educational impacts in the region.
“The Woven by Water exhibit marks both a renewal of our exhibit spaces and a deepening of our commitment to reflect the science, stories and perspectives of Northern Ontario in fresh and engaging ways,”
said Ashley Larose, chief executive officer of Science North. The centre indicated the installation aims to expand its capacity for programming and to foreground the Anishinaabek Water Cycle and Indigenous knowledge about how water shapes land and life.
Timeline and context
Science North previously said it plans to complete Woven by Water in 2028, following a separate window renewal project currently underway. The centre is a major regional institution for science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and attracts visitors from across Northern Ontario and beyond.
Implications for education and regional development
The combined provincial and federal investments reflect a trend of targeted public funding for cultural and educational infrastructure outside Ontario’s larger urban centres. Officials framed the project as both a tourism asset and a way to strengthen local science programming. By embedding Indigenous storytelling and harvesting practices into an interactive exhibit, Science North intends to present ecological knowledge in ways that reach broad public audiences, including school groups and family visitors.
- Public funding: The project demonstrates coordinated federal-provincial support for regional cultural infrastructure.
- Indigenous content: The exhibit integrates Indigenous perspectives and traditional practices into science education.
- Accessibility and engagement: Design elements aim to combine physical play, sensory displays and digital projection to broaden learning approaches.
Science North has not detailed how the remaining portion of the project budget will be sourced beyond the two confirmed contributions. The centre will continue its existing renewal work before moving to the new exhibit installation, with the stated completion target of 2028.
