Science North has been touring an exhibit detailing the science behind Guinness World Record holders and it opened at the North Bay Museum, Friday.
The tour launched this summer in Thunder Bay before moving to Kenora, with the Timmins show having closed just last week.
Fully interactive, the exhibit challenges visitors to test their own speed, reflexes, memory, and other faculties while comparing their performances with record-holders for similar activities.
Each kiosk within the exhibit offers a different activity, and visitors will learn about the science involved when record-holders perform these amazing feats.
“Visitors will be challenged to reconsider their preconceptions about what’s possible and what they themselves can achieve,” explains Julie Aelick, the acting senior manager of marketing with Science North.
“We’re very excited,” to have the show in North Bay, offers Naomi Hehn, the museum’s curator.
“We had a few exhibits from Science North come in from the past, and they always bring in new families and new audiences.”
With the holiday season fast approaching, Hehn is happy the museum can offer a family-friendly exhibit that allows for so much interaction.
“We’ve expanded our hours,” to help facilitate more people, she adds.
The exhibits “are so much fun,” she continues, “with so many challenges that you can take on with your friends and family.”
“This is our fourth city in Northern Ontario” notes Annemarie Mantione of Science North, “and we’ll be going to Sault Ste. Marie next,” before the tour ends.
“It’s great seeing everybody getting to interact in each community,” she says. “It’s amazing to see kids come in, and adults, and be so excited that they have an exhibit right in their own backyard.
“The exhibit comes to them instead of them having to travel to the exhibit.”
The Science of Guinness World Records is a production of Science North in partnership with Ripley Entertainment Inc. and Guinness World Records.
The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund provided funding, as did FedNor, and Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing, attended the opening, as did Anthony Rota, the MP for Nipissing-Timiskaming.
“Our government will continue to invest in programs through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation,” Fedeli explains, “that increase economic activity for the North.”
North Bay Mayor Al McDonald, also in attendance, mentions the city “is delighted to welcome this exciting new exhibit showcasing some truly incredible feats.”
The exhibit runs until January 27, 2022, and guests can visit Wednesdays from noon to 5 p.m., Thursdays from noon to 8:00 p.m., Fridays from noon until 5:00 p.m., and Saturdays and Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Access to the exhibit is covered in the cost of admission to the museum.
David Briggs is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of BayToday, a publication of Village Media. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.