New look for Laval Cosmodôme soon to take flight

The interactive concept developed by GSM Design will feature 100% digital content, allowing the exhibits to be in constant evolution, says Michelle Courchesne, Quebec cabinet minister responsible for Laval region.

Despite all this, the administration intends to remedy the situation by offering visitors a three-faceted experience on sensorial, intellectual and amusing levels. Departing from its current 'exhibit form', the new Space Sciences Centre will recreate a space station composed of five modules involving 15 interactive aspects. With each visit permitting the exploration of only five of the 15 aspects, it's a good bet that visitors will return for the rest of the experience. In projections made in 2006, it was estimated that the redesigned Centre would easily attract and accommodate between 175,000 and 200,000 visitors a year.

If there was little indication to this point that a municipal election is scheduled for the fall, the uncertainty was definitely dispelled at this past Monday's Cosmodôme press conference, when and where the mayor's PRO (Ralliement Officiel des Lavallois) Party gave every indication that it is now in campaign mode, judging by the large number of incumbent city councilors who turned up alongside mayor Vaillancourt himself.

It also seemed that the presence of the councilors in such large numbers (14 in all) inspired witty remarks from Regional Minister Michelle Courchesne, who opened her address from the podium with the following statement: "We could probably hold a city council meeting." At his turn, mayor Vaillancourt retorted with: "The members of the city council are always available when needed."

The Cosmodôme, which also houses the Space Camp hosting about 24,000 young people a year for various overnight stays, is not a profitable venture, at least not as far as 2005, 2006, and 2007 finances are concerned, according to board member Paul Lemay, who doesn't specify whether the operation is in deficit or not.