Roger Parent, Réalisations’ President and Head of Creation, is pleased to announce that Kees Van Draanen has returned to Réalisations as VP Finances and Administration to help in structuring the recent growth and development that the company is experiencing.

Kees has cumulated more than thirty years of experience working for cultural organizations based in Québec, Ontario and Europe in the fields of administration, human resources and finance. 

After studies in History followed by diplomas in Accounting and Economics, Kees worked most notably for Cirque du Soleil as an administrative director from 1998 to 1993 in Canada and from 1994 to 1999 and again from 2002 to 2005 in Europe. Upon his return to Canada in 2006, he consulted for the Palais Montcalm theatre to put into place its administrative structure. He then worked for Réalisations as its Director of Administration and Finances and afterwards worked with the Grand Ballets Canadiens and, most recently, with RIDEAU - an independent network of presenters of artistic events.

Kees’ experience is very welcomed as Réalisations prepares to deliver a series of projects in Canada, the US, Europe and in Asia in 2017.

www.realisations.net

“Closing the centre, it’s no question, we won’t be closing the centre,” he said.
Rather, he said the centre relies on membership fees to determine what type of equipment they can purchase and what activities they can offer.

“Within three months, our target is 2,000 and we’re getting up to the target,” the president said of their goal, noting that a number of memberships have been purchased since they began the campaign in October.

In order to reach their goal, Garwah said they have enlisted the help of a professional marketing team. Read more

After sitting for years vacant and neglected in Coronation Park, the stars have finally aligned for the Queen Elizabeth II Planetarium.

The city and Telus World of Science have reached an agreement to restore the iconic building.

The property, which has been granted historic designation, will be renovated as an educational, reception and production space for the science centre, and will be also be rented out for small public events. Read more

A new exhibit has opened at the Johnson Geo Centre that offers the public a chance to learn about an environment that exists off the coast of this province.

Many people associate coral reefs with tropical climates however there are deep, cold water corals and sponges thriving in our waters. Read more

The Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) has awarded the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre with its National Water Wise Award for the Aquarium's longstanding commitment to aquatic life conservation, education, research and innovative operating practices.

This is the second award being presented in 2016, its inaugural year. The CIPH award program was developed to recognize outstanding efforts to improve our relationship with water. Read more.

Science North’s science director, Jennifer Pink, has announced she will retire on March 31, 2017 after a successful career spanning more than three decades at the centre.  

Pink started her Science North career in 1984 as a program planner and held many leadership positions before becoming science director in 2008. 

“I’ve had a very exciting career at Science North,” said Pink. “It’s been truly fulfilling to work alongside a very talented team of people in one of the best science centres in the world.” Read more.

Once completed, the oncology unit on the eighth floor of the new centre at B.C. Children’s Hospital will be designed to give cancer patients the experience of moving from inside the International Space Station in the preparation room, to outer space for their procedure in the second room, and finally back to Earth in the recovery area.

The hospital is partnering with the H.R. MacMillan Space Centre to design the spacewalk.

Space centre astronomer Derek Kief said the spacewalk is the result of several brainstorming sessions with doctors, patients and other hospital staff.

Read more.

The crown prince of Norway stopped into the Johnson Geo Centre in St. John's on Thursday as part of his tour of the city.

Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit are finishing their four-day tour of Canada in St. John's. Read more

On Thursday, to honour World Science Day for Peace and Development, more than 500 kids witnessed a “super ping pong eruption” at Telus World of Science. Read more

November is Ocean Wise Month and Canadians across the country are encouraged to join the sustainable seafood movement to help ensure our oceans, lakes and rivers are healthy for future generations. Partners from coast to coast will be donning aprons and heating up the kitchen at a number of celebratory events, including sustainable chowder competitions in Wolfville, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.

Ocean Wise Month helps raise awareness about the biggest issue our oceans face today: overfishing. Read more