Effective today, March 13, at the close of business, The Exploration Place Museum and Science Centre will be closing to the public and for all childcare programs for at least the next two weeks, due to COVID-19 concerns. A decision regarding its status after March break will be made as more information develops.
“This was not an easy choice to make,” said Tracy Calogheros, CEO. “We are a science-centre and believe in evidence-based decision making. It is clear that the Covid-19 virus is highly contagious and in centres like ours it can spread exponentially, I simply cannot in good conscience ignore that risk.”
For families with children registered for March break camps or for birthday parties the museum will issue a full refund for all fees. Please watch for an email from The Exploration Place regarding the refunds. For the staff, The Exploration Place will cover wages for the next two weeks while it waits to see what will happen with new cases in our area.
“Although there is no known case of COVID-19 (coronavirus) in our region, our board supports the management’s difficult decision to close the Exploration Place to help the community with the ‘social distancing’ that is necessary to slow the spread of the virus at this critical stage,” said Shauna Harper, co-chair of the board of trustees. “This decision was not made lightly. We believe that this will help to safeguard the health and safety of our community, knowing that we are all in this together.”
“I realize what an inconvenience this will be for families, however I have a responsibility to the general public and to my staff and I believe it would be irresponsible to ignore the science,” said Calogheros. “The mounting evidence that social distancing is the best way to flatten the curve of new infections is indisputable. We must work together to ensure those of our family and neighbours who are most susceptible to this virus are both protected to the best of our ability and able to access the care they will need if they do become infected.”
Please stay tuned to Exploration Place social media channels for updates.