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Whales/Tohora

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  • Matiu Rei and Huia Winiata (Maori Elders), lead Chief Bryan LaForme of the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, through the new exhibition Whales / Tohora, now on display at the Ontario Science Centre until March 20, 2011.

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  • Science School students inspect the 18-metre skeleton of a Sperm Whale in the exhibition Whales / Tohora, now on display at the Ontario Science Centre until March 20, 2011.

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  • Matiu Rei (Maori Elder), Rhonda Paku, Senior Curator, the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and Lesley Lewis, CEO, Ontario Science Centre, tour the new exhibition Whales / Tohora on display at the Ontario Science Centre until March 20, 2011.

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Dive into the world of Whales / Tohorā at the Ontario Science Centre

New exhibition explores the science and the history of whales in New Zealand

November 04, 2010 @ 12:00PM

Tickets on sale now at www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca 

Core News Facts:

  • Whales / Tohora features whale specimens, life-sized models and cultural artifacts from the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. The exhibition has a connection to the South Pacific and Maori culture and is not often presented outside of New Zealand
  • Maori elders from New Zealand officially opened the exhibition with a unique spiritual ceremony at dawn, transferring guardianship of the exhibition to Canadian First Nations representatives for its duration in Canada
  • The exhibition uses many interactive displays to explore the relationship between humans and whales, the biology of whales and the mystery of both mass and single whale strandings
  • Highlights of the exhibition include two enormous, fully-articulated sperm whale skeletons, a crawl-through model of a blue whale heart and the “Whale Riders” theatre experience which presents three stories from different iwi (tribes) linked by excerpts of the film Whale Rider.
  • Whales / Tohora is on display at the Ontario Science Centre from Nov. 4, 2010 to Mar. 20, 2011


About the Exhibition

  • Visitors can design their own virtual whale, touch real whale bones and listen to the sounds of various whale species
  • A realistic animation based on genuine sounds and movement data take visitors to the ocean depths with a sperm whale in search of giant squid
  • The threats facing whales, such as fishing nets, foreign debris, predators and boats are examined throughout the exhibition. It also explains why whales strand themselves and presents solutions to the problem
  • This 750 square metre exhibition was developed and presented by the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa and made possible through the support of the New Zealand Government. 


Hours and Ticket Information

Whales / Tohora is on display from Nov. 4, 2010 to Mar. 20, 2011, and free with admission to the Ontario Science Centre. Prices are: Adults $20, Youth/Students (with ID) and Seniors $16, Children (4-12) $13. Children three and under are free.

The Ontario Science Centre is open 364 days a year, closed December 25th. Opening hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca, at the box office, or by calling 416-696-1000.

* Please note, certain Maori accents do not appear in this text due to formatting issues.

Quotes

“The breadth and scale of this exhibition will leave a lasting impression on our visitors. From the long history of whaling in the South Pacific to the latest research in whale biology, everyone will take away new insights into these spectacular creatures.”

Lesley Lewis, CEO, Ontario Science Centre

“We are pleased to give the Ontario Science Centre’s visitors this opportunity to discover more about the world of whales. Whales / Tohora’s blend of science, storytelling and innovative interactivity proved hugely popular with both adults and children in New Zealand.”

Michelle Hippolite, Kaihautu Co-Leader, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

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About the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa


The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa (Te Papa), one of the largest national museums in the world, has attracted over 14.4 million visitors since it opened in 1998. Te Papa is recognised as a world leader in the new wave of innovative and interactive museum experiences and has an international reputation for excellence.

About the Ontario Science Centre


The Ontario Science Centre uses science as the lens to inspire and actively engage people in new ways of seeing, understanding and thinking about themselves and the world around them. Our facility has received Green Building certification for energy efficiency by the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), and was named building of the year in the Public Assembly category. The Ontario Science Centre is an agency of the Government of Ontario. For more information, visit www.OntarioScienceCentre.ca or call our box office at 416-696-1000.
Twitter: @ontsciencectr


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