October is a month of vivid colour, and also the occasion when the Canadian Museum of Nature host their annual Open House. Usually at this time, they throw open the doors of their Natural Heritage Campus for a day to welcome visitors behind the scenes for a rare look at their collections rooms and labs. Since they can't invite you to physically step into their vast research and collections facility this fall, they offer you instead a virtual visit through fascinating videos.
Follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and visit them at nature.ca.
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New video series
Virtual Open House
Go behind the scenes into our museum's research and collections facility – a huge campus where 14.6 million specimens present an invaluable record of Canada's natural history. Meet our experts. Learn interesting facts about how to preserve scientific collections, from diatoms to dinosaurs. Additional videos will be released on Wednesdays and Saturdays over the next two months.
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A National Treasure
The Gilles Haineault Mineral Collection
Recently the museum announced the acquisition of the world's best collection of minerals from Mont Saint Hilaire, Quebec. This locality is rich in rare elements that hold immense research value. The acquisition of 8000 specimens, amassed by mineral collector Gilles Haineault, was partly made possible by the newly-established Nature Foundation, an independent charitable entity. Learn more about this collection’s scientific significance. (Mineral shown above: Catapleiite with natrolite, CMNMC 87521).
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A mammoth experience
Magical moments in Planet Ice
Thanks to an exciting collaboration with Montreal's Moment Factory, visitors can bring extinct animals, such as the woolly mammoth to life, in the special exhibition, Planet Ice: Mysteries of the Ice Ages. With a wave of the arms the magic is activated, revealing an animal emerging from a snow squall. Thanks to touchless technology, this popular interactive is very "COVID-friendly". If you haven't visited Planet Ice yet, buy your tickets online now: https://nature.ca/tickets.
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Fun and educational
Spooky scavenger hunt
For many little ghosts and goblins, Hallowe’en celebrations will be a little different this year. Bring the family to the museum for a fun scavenger hunt. Costumes welcome. Protective masks that properly fit over the nose and mouth are still required.
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Drop in!
Nature hour
Thank you to Canada Life for supporting free admission to the museum Wednesday-Friday from 3 pm to 4 pm. This support expands access to our world-class exhibitions and, of course, to the amazing suspended installation of planet Earth, called Gaia, by artist Luke Jerram. Please note that advance online tickets are required for this free hour. (Click the link below and select the 2:45 pm time slot).
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