A Museum Designed for Children I recently had the opportunity to tour the facilities of the new Children’s Museum, and I cannot wait for this space to launch its new home in Old East Village. In 1982, the Children’s Museum opened its doors on Wharncliffe Rd., and since then the museum has engaged with and educated over three million children. As the very first children’s museum in Canada, it comes as no surprise that it has outgrown the old facility and has developed into something that would ultimately need an upgrade. Luckily for us in OEV the new home for these immersive experiences will now be at 100 Kellogg Lane. The decision to move the museum was officially announced in 2018. Over the last six years, much decision-making of the 36,000 square feet has gone into designing the fourth floor of the building. The plan is to unveil the results of this labour in the fall of 2024. The undertaking of building a new space that meets the interests and needs of today was of greatest importance. Consultations, workshops, surveys and interviews incorporated over 500 children, families and community members to help make informed and thoughtful decisions. The goal was to keep true to the original ideals in creating a museum designed for children, by children .
See what’s up at Carson Library this Fall.
Lots of activities for all ages. Mark them in your calendar!
Upon entering the space it’s clear that the mission is to create something from a small person’s perspective and will likely transport a big person back to their youth. After admiring the stunning mosaic mural crafted by OEV resident Susan Day and many children from the area, visitors will walk under the canopy of a great forest. Here they can climb and crawl through the greenery. This leads them to a familiar-looking community space of homes, shops and services all designed at their level to explore and animate.
Page 8 Old East Villager September/October 2024
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