Amazing Astronomy

Alberta Energy History

Last month, the Alberta Government and Fort McMurray Tourism announced a new partnership to offer tourism information at the Oil Sands Discovery Centre. Under the agreement, Fort McMurray Tourism will provide tourism information services as well as oversee and manage operations and programming at the Centre.

In celebration of this new partnership, the Alberta Culture launched the new website: Alberta's Energy Resources Heritage 

This website features tons of information about the history of the oil sands in the region. It's a great way to learn more about the region's history! Check it out!

International Museum Day

Today is International Museum Day!

The International Council of Museums (ICOM) established this day in 1977 to encourage public awareness of the role of museums in the deveopment of society.  This year, the suggested theme is Museum Collections make Connections.  This theme reminds us that museums are living institutions that helo create  bonds between visitors, generations and cultures around the world.
The museum is an institution that preserves and communicates the past. yet it is grounded in the present.  It is a link between the generations and it allows present and future generations to better comprehend their origins. Collaborations between museums are occurring worldwide; an important cultural exchange of knowledge and experience.  Travelling exhibits, art displays, artifacts and other worldly items stem from one corner of the world to another though museums for the public to connect with , relate to and enjoy.
In 2013, 35,000 museums from 143 countries on five continents participated in International Museums Day.

Why not disperse yourself in our local history and visit one of our regions local museums;
1.  The Oil Sands Discovery Centre, http://history.alberta.ca/oilsands/
2.  Heritage Park Museum, http://www.fortmcmurrayhistory.com/
3.  Bi-Centennial Museum in Fort Chipewyan, http://public.museums.ab.ca/museums.cfm?ItemID=46

For more information regarding International Museum Day or the ICOM, please visit www.icom.museum

FREE Family Day Fun at the OSDC- Feb. 17, 2014

Job Posting at the Oil Sands Discovery Centre

The Oil Sands Discovery Centre in Fort McMurray is located in the heart of the world's biggest single oil deposit - the Athabasca Oil Sands. The Centre is a heritage and educational facility committed to increasing public awareness and knowledge about the oil sands. We are currently seeking a Facility Manager to work with Alberta Culture and Fort McMurray Tourism (FMT) in providing leadership and direction for the Centre.

Reporting to the Director, Site Operations, and on secondment to Fort McMurray Tourism, the Facility Manager provides direction and leadership for the operation of the Oil Sands Discovery Centre (OSDC). The Facility Manager ensures the continued protection, preservation, and presentation of the history, science, technology, and significance of the oil sands of Alberta to the public in a manner that increases their appreciation and knowledge. Specifically, your responsibilities will include:

• Site management and operations; you will manage and direct operations and public programming to ensure interpretive objects and exhibits associated with the Centre are protected and preserved.
• Public programming and visitor services; this position manages and directs the staff responsible for developing and delivering programs and services offered by the OSDC.
• Staff leadership and management; you will provide leadership, coaching, and supervision of site programming and administrative staff and volunteers.
• Business planning and administration; the Facility Manager is responsible for contributing to the development of strategic business plans, site resource allocation decisions, policies, and priorities.

To succeed in this position, you will need extensive knowledge of legislation, regulations, and policies
applicable to the operation of heritage facilities, including the Historical Resources Act, and the Financial Administration Act. Understanding and demonstrated success working within a collaborative partnership model is also required. Knowledge of standards and practices for museums is also essential. 


Qualifications: A four year university degree in a related field is required, and a minimum of four years’ related and progressively responsible experience. Previous experience in the administration, supervision, and/or management of a historic site, museum, interpretive centre, or other heritage facility is required. Equivalencies will be considered.

How to Apply: Online applications are preferred. To apply online, please visit https://www.jobs.alberta.ca/. 
Note: As only one file can be uploaded, please ensure your cover letter, resume and any other related documents are submitted in one file. If you are unable to submit an electronic version of your resume, please submit your resume, quoting the Job ID 1021667, to: Linda Yan, Culture, 7th floor Standard Life Centre 10405 Jasper Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T5J 4R7. Fax: (780) 422-3142. Applicants who apply online will be able to track the status of their application. 

Closing date is February 10, 2014. 

Free Admission to the Oil Sands Discovery Centre

In celebration of Alberta Culture Days, the Oil Sands Discovery Centre is offering free admission from 10 am to 4 pm on September 27th, 28th and 29th, 2013. Come and experience the history, science, and technology of the oil sands! Fun for all ages!

Summer Science Camps at the Oil Sands Discovery Centre

We make science fun!

The Oil Sands Discovery Centre offers themed camps full of activities and experiments in July and August for children ages 4 to 12. Join us for an unforgettable experience!

Registration is open, call 780-743-7167, ext. 236 to register. No drop-ins or emails will be accepted. Pre-registration is required for each camp.

Visit http://history.alberta.ca/oilsands/publicprograms/docs/summersciencecamps.pdf for more information.

Sponsored by Suncor Energy.

Oil Sands Discovery Centre Summer Science Camps 2013

How to register:

To register for a summer camp please contact the Centre at 780-743-7167, extension 236. If there is no answer, please leave a message and your call will be returned. Registration will only be completed over the phone, no email or drop-in registrations will be accepted.

Camp fees must be paid in advance.

Oil Sands Discovery Centre

515 MacKenzie Boulevard
Fort McMurray, Alberta T9H 4X3

tel 780 743 7167

toll-free within Alberta dial 310 0000 first 

fax 780 791 0710

Historic Walking Tour of Abasand Oils Ltd.

Free Abasand tour  

June 7th from 6:00 until 7:30. We will meet at the trail head just across from École Boreal. Participants must sign up before hand by calling the centre at 780-743-7167.

Oil Sands Discovery Transformations Lab

Oil Sands Discovery Centre: April 2013 Discovery Lab - Light and Colour

For more information, contact:

780.743.7167

oilsandsdiscovery.com

Feel the Forces Discovery Lab 2013

Discover some of the different forces of the world through hands-on experiments. 

Measure friction with some familiar every-day objects, you may be surprised. 

The force of gravity is what creates weight on Earth. Test this forces and see the effect on a rubber band. 

Roller coasters stay in place because of centrifugal force. See this in action with a simple experiment using a spinning cup. 

Every Saturday and Sunday in March, 10 am to 4 pm. 

Discovery Lab is self-guided and requires adult supervision. 

Discovery Lab is included with admission.

Diana Moser BA, MA, MMSt 

Acting Facility Supervisor 

Oil Sands Discovery Centre 

515 MacKenzie Blvd 

Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4X3 

780-743-7167, ext. 231 

www.oilsandsdiscovery.com

Oil Sands Discovery Centre February Discovery Lab

February Discovery Lab – Pushes & Pulls: Experimenting with Magnets 

Explore the mysterious forces created by magnets with hands-on experiments sure to attract any scientist! Family-friendly themed activities and experiments will amaze and entertain you. 

The Discovery Lab is self-guided and requires adult supervision. 

Saturdays and Sundays in February, 10 am to 4 pm.
The Discovery Lab is included with admission.

http://history.alberta.ca/oilsands/publicprograms/discoverylab.aspx

Diana Moser BA, MA, MMSt
Acting Facility Supervisor
Oil Sands Discovery Centre
515 MacKenzie Blvd
Fort McMurray, AB T9H 4X3
780-743-7167, ext. 231
www.oilsandsdiscovery.com

February 2013 Culture Network Meeting

Date: Thursday February 7, 2013
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Location:Oil Sands Discovery Centre.

This network provides a local forum to discuss ideas, events, challenges and solutions for arts and culture in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. Participants can bring information and share how their group is engaging the arts, history and culture of this region to help unify our communities and grow our cultural understandings. Everyone is welcome!



Contact brandi.gartner@woodbuffalo.ab.ca for more information.

Alberta's Provincial Historic Sites, Interpretive Centres and Museums

The Government of Alberta operates a network of historic sites, interpretive centres and museums throughout the Province.

One of these great resources is located right here in Wood Buffalo!! The Oil Sands Discovery Centre tells the exciting story of the Athabasca Oil Sands, the world’s biggest single oil deposit. Discover how oil was formed millions of years ago, perform experiments used by oil sands pioneers, and see how bitumen is extracted and changed into synthetic crude oil. To learn more about the Oil Sands Discovery Centre, visit: http://history.alberta.ca/oilsands/


Learn more about the fantastic historical sites located throughout Alberta by visiting: http://history.alberta.ca/

Perhaps you will find an exciting destination to visit where you can reconnect with our history in 2013!!

Amazing Astronomy at the Oil Sands Discovery Centre

www.oilsandsdiscovery.com

Festivals of Light at the Oil Sands Discovery Centre

Discover how different countries and cultures celebrate holidays around the winter solstice and New Year, all in one afternoon! Learn about traditions and celebrations from Denmark, China, England, Ukraine, Ireland, India, Japan and Canada.
The Discovery Lab is included with admission.

Highway 63 and MacKenzie Blvd | phone 780-743-7167phone 780-743-7167

www.oilsandsdiscovery.com

Oil Sands Discovery Centre - November Discovery Lab

For more information, please call 780-743-7167 or visit www.oilsandsdiscovery.com

Alberta Culture Days 2012 - Saturday Schedule

Wood Buffalo: Where the World Meets!

www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca/culturedays

Saturday September 29, 2012:

Alberta Culture Days at the Oil Sands Discovery Centre

10:00am - 4:30pm

Oil Sands Discovery Centre

FREE!

The Oil Sands Discovery Centre, in collaboration with the Wood Buffalo Arts and Crafts Guild and the Full Moon Cafe, celebrates Alberta Culture Days with a display of local art exhibits, musical entertainment, and hands-on Discovery lab activities for the whole family.  The Centre is also proud to present the School of Song who will be offering music workshops like the Community Song Circle and jam sessions throughout the day! 

The Oil Sands Discovery Centre will be offering free admission for Alberta Culture Days; Friday Sept 28- Sunday Sept 30.

http://history.alberta.ca/oilsands/specialevents/specialevents.aspx

Kids 4 Ever

10:00am - 4:00pm

Oil Sands Discovery Centre

FREE!

Group painting with the Wood Buffalo Arts and Crafts Guild; paint on canvases at the Oil Sands Discovery Centre.  Once the art pieces are complete, the canvases will be auctioned off to raise funds for the Kids4Ever organization. 

Between Lights and shadows

11:30am – 2:30pm

Fort McMurray Public Library (Main Floor)

FREE!

The MacDonald Island Community Art Gallery in collaboration with the Fort McMurray Public Library and the Wood Buffalo Artists Forum would like to celebrate Alberta Culture Days.   The art gallery is offering children’s workshops exploring and combining story-telling, visual art and performance.  The event takes place on the main floor of the Fort McMurray Public Library.

Workshop I: (11:30am) Sand Animation- After viewing a projection of a Sand Animation Performance, children will explore different media such as Chinese Ink, charcoal and acrylic.                                             

Workshop II: (1:00pm) Shadow Puppets - Participants will create their own shadow puppet bringing them to life using light and shadow. Special guest: Jane Leavitt (Theatre instructor at Keyano College).

Keyano Theatre presents:  “3 Play”.  

Three one act plays presented by Fort McMurray’s own talent.

7:00 pm - 10:00 pm

There is a minimal cost for this event.

www.keyano.ca/theatre

Play #1 Anasula - Performed and Created by Patti Dwyer, Directed by Julie Funk. A one-woman show, Anasula is about a seven-year old girl named Tommy trying to understand where her Mother went when she passed away. Tommy has an unusual imaginary friend named Zoe. She lives in another realm and speaks only Ojibwe, Sanskrit and the magic language of Falsana. Tommy's Mother lives in this realm with Zoe. The journey of this charming little girl is funny, touching and magical.

Play #2 Eye Flower Production presents: Five ways to Break a Woman’s Heart - directed by Shauna Lee Allan, written by Michael Beamish is about a Mother and Daughter relationship suffering from a canyon of a generation gap. Will Brenda and Wendy ever find a common ground? Will either of them find love in the turbulent world of mischief men?  

Play #3 Eye Flower Production presents:Mac Attack - a new play written by Michael Beamish. "Mac Attack" enters the paranoid world of Teevo, a Haul Truck Operator from Fort Mac and his buddy, Darrell, whose conspiracy theories have forecast WW3, nuclear warfare and the end of life as we know it. Fearing their ultimate doom, they have bunkered down in Teevo's bomb shelter and with a 100 year supply of wieners, beans and beer the two friends will build a new society...

For more information about Alberta Culture Days 2012 activities in Wood Buffalo, please visit: www.woodbuffalo.ab.ca/culturedays

Oil Sands Discovery Centre and Wood Buffalo Featured on Alberta Prime Time

Recently, the Oil Sands Discovery Centre was featured on Alberta Prime Time. This clip shows the incredible knowledge and programming that is available right in our region.

To view the clip, please visit:

http://www.albertaprimetime.com/Stories.aspx?pd=2647

The Oil Sands Discovery Centre is a great place to visit by yourself or with your family. They have great summer programs, special events, and a wonderful gift shop.

To learn more about the Oil Sands Discovery Centre, please contact:

Oil Sands Discovery Centre
515 MacKenzie Blvd
Fort McMurray, Alberta
T9H 4X3
Canada
Phone: 780-743-7167
To call toll free in Alberta, first dial 310-000
Fax: 780-791-0710
Email: osdc@gov.ab.ca
http://history.alberta.ca/oilsands/default.aspx