TAA AGM at The Cultch

On Tuesday, June 23, The Themed Attraction Association of Canada held its Annual General Meeting at The Cultch.

The Cultch

Following the AGM, the Executive Director of The Cultch, Heather Redfern, led the group on a tour of the facility. The Cultch has experienced an amazing refurbishment and transformation. This phase is nearing completion.

CASC presents Ian McLennan with the 2009 CASCADE Award

At their 7th annual Awards Gala held in Regina, Saskatchewan, on June 6th, the Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC) announced the 2009 winners of the CASCADE Awards, recognizing outstanding achievements in science and technology engagement by its members. Two individuals were recognized for their contributions to the field. Nominations for Outstanding Career Achievement are adjudicated by the CASC Board of Directors. One of the winners was TAA Member, Ian C. McLennan.

Ian McLennan has been integral in the field of science communication for almost 50 years. Beginning his career as a science centre executive, he has now developed an international reputation as an ‘extra-ordinarily well-informed and effective consultant’ in the development and operations of science centre, museum and planetarium experiences.

In 1960 Ian was founding Director of the Queen Elizabeth II Planetarium in Edmonton, the first planetarium to open in Canada. He later became Director of the Strasenburgh Planetarium in Rochester, NY. In the mid 1970s, Ian became the Director and General Manager of the newly opened Ontario Place complex, including its ground-breaking IMAX Theatre.

As a consultant Ian’s work has taken him all over the world. His clients have included UNICEF, CERN, the Royal Observatory Greenwich, the Griffith Observatory and the International Planetarium Society.

In Canada he has worked with science centres, planetariums and museums in eight provinces. In the words of a long-time colleague, ‘Ian’s exceptional devotion has inspired many to pursue careers in the science centre field and has raised expectations for what science centres bring to their local communities.’

TAA AGM at Cultch on June 23

Cultch, 1895 Venables Street, Vancouver

TAA Member Event announcement:

2009 June 23

TAA Annual General Meeting
and
behind-the-scenes tour of
East Vancouver’s newly refurbished Cultch
Event begins at 6 PM
1895 Venables Street, Vancouver

TAA Members Visit Vancouver’s New Convention Centre.

Meeting Notice

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22nd
TAA Canada Members
assemble a few moments before 6:00 PM
at Burrard Entrance of the
Vancouver Convention Centre
corner of Burrard Street and Canada Place
Pre-registration required (see below)

Attendance at this special event may be limited. TAA members are asked to register by e-mail to Special Events Co-Chair Ian McLennan with their name, affiliation and number of people attending (should be TAA members or prospective members). Ian will compile the list and relay it on to the hosts at the Convention Centre.

Note: Registration deadline for this tour is Tuesday, April 21st at NOON, Pacific Time.
The tour will be under the direction of Harnek Nijjar, the Centre’s manager of services — accompanied by three other tour guides. In attendance will be one of the architects from Musson Cattell Mackey.

TAA Member Produced Graphics for the Ningxia Science Center

Artcraft Display Graphics Inc. recently completed the graphics for the brand new Ningxia Science Center. The center brings the world of high-tech to a remote region of northern China. Located in the provincial capitol of Yinchuan, the 3 storey high structure features a planetarium, a childrens’ museum and exhibits on many facets of science- including geology, natural history, paleontology, aerospace, astronomy and world history.

The exhibits were fabricated in China by Artcraft partner Beijing Jiazhong Yuanjian Art and Science Technology Ltd. Graphics were designed in China and printed by Artcraft in their Port Coquitlam premises using their environmentally friendly embedded polycarbonate process.

National Association for Interpretation and TAA Canada

The National Association for Interpretation is a US based association that focuses on interpretation for parks and museums (and is affiliated with TAA Canada). Since NAI’s inception in 1954 it has grown to include members from all over the world.

To recognize this international stature, NAI members Duane Fast (Artcraft Display Graphics Inc. and TAA director), Theresa Coble (Stephen F. Austin University, Texas) and Jim Wilson (University of Missouri, St. Louis) recently founded a new International Section of the NAI.

Goals
• Promote internationalism by providing opportunities for member to increase international understanding and cultural competency.
(Internationalism: n. the advocacy of a community of interests among nations/ people, Oxford Dictionary )
• Promote opportunities for members to network internationally and form academic, business and professional partnerships.
• Create a forum for members to share their international experiences and knowledge.
• Create a “home” within NAI for international members.
• Serve as the primary source for news related to international interpretation.
• Support NAI international initiatives.

Mission Statement
• To foster an understanding of world heritage through cultural exchange, international networking and professional development.

And the International Section of the NAI is off and running!

There was a fantastic kick-off event at the recent NAI National Conference in Portland. Guest speakers Ted Cable shared some fascinating insights into working in Africa from a foreigner’s perspective and Aaron Maluwa gave us the inside story about Malawi. Membership is increasing rapidly and interest is global. For more information click ==> www.naisections.org/INTL.

Technorati Tags: NAI

Recognition for David Jensen of D. Jensen & Associates Design

TAA member David Jensen was recognized at last week-end’s annual conference of the British Columbia Museums Association in Victoria, BC.

The honour, for David’s lifetime work in the museum field, was presented at the Society banquet by the Executive Director of BCMA, Jim Harding.

Technorati Tags: BCMA, British Columbia Museums Association, David Jensen

Free Parking at YVR

YVR Airport
TAA event sponsor on October 23
will provide free parking for 40 TAA members
For this event:

Clive Grout’s Illustrated talk
Thursday, October 23rd
5:45 PM to 7:45 PM
Link Building at Vancouver YVR International Airport
(between domestic and international terminals)

For more information click here
The first forty TAA members to sign up for the event
will be afforded free parking
courtesy of YVR – one of the event sponsors.

Technorati Tags: clive grout, YVR

Dinosaurs at Artcraft

Artcraft Display Graphics Inc. recently played host to two large dinosaur fossils (Jingshanosaurus) from China (one large adult and one smaller juvenile).

Two paleontologists from China spent time in Vancouver re-assembling and preparing them for display. Then they were crated up and shipped to the Manitoba Museum in Winnipeg.

TAA member, Duane Fast, reports that was very exciting to work with actual 300 million year old bones.

Jingshanosaurus is an early Jurassic prosauropod found in Yunnan province in China. These giant plant eaters were an early form of dinosaur evolution that eventually gave way to the more commonly known sauropods.

Technorati Tags: Jingshanosaurus, dinosaur

October 23rd — Illustrated talk by Clive Grout

On October 23 TAACanada’s Honorary President, Clive Grout, will present an illustrated talk on some of his recent projects – including the remarkable Link Building at YVR. For that part of the talk, he will be joined by Mike McDonald of Kasian Architecture and Design. Clive will also be inviting several TAA members who contributed to that project to discuss their roles. As this blog item is being written, we know that will include David James of Panther Management and Ken Larson of Sharp & Diamond Landscape Architecture Ltd.

Mark your calendar:

Thursday, October 23rd
5:45 PM to 7:45 PM
Link Building at Vancouver YVR International Airport
(between domestic and international terminals)

Technorati Tags: clivegrout