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Telus World of Science Edmonton has announced it will stay closed until next year due to flood damage.
After a severe storm on July 10 flooded the centre and forced its closure, TWOSE began repairs. The centre originally told the public it planned to reopen in November 2026.
In a press release issued Aug. 18, the centre said the city confirmed that full restoration work is now expected to be completed in December 2026, with a plan to reopen to the public in early 2027.
“While this is incredibly disappointing for our members and our visitors and community as well as our staff, what it does give us is a concrete timeline moving forward,” said Constance Scarlett, president and CEO of TWOSE.
“Now that some of the storm waters have subsided in the city, we aren’t as worried about reflooding at the science centre, which means construction can begin and we can start rebuilding all of the amazing spaces that Edmontonians have come to love over the past 40 years.”
Recurring storms throughout July flooded areas of the building that were already undergoing recovery work. The centre said those incidents were a contributing factor to remaining closed longer than originally planned.
In mid-July, the centre said nearly 70 per cent of full-time and part-time employees at the centre were being temporarily laid off. At the time, Scarlett said 147 staff members in total were impacted.
Last month, Civic Service Union 52, the union representing the centre’s employees, started an emergency relief fund to support workers. Full-time employees are eligible to receive a one-time grant of $1,800, while part-time employees can receive a one-time grant of $1,000.
“The extension has an incredible toll on all our staff,” said Scarlett. “Now that we have a concrete date to work towards, we’ll be able to work on those recall plans and hopefully be able to bring those employees back sooner rather than later.”
History of the centre
An Edmonton staple, TWOSE can trace its roots back almost 50 years, when the Edmonton Space Sciences Foundation launched in 1978 as a private, non-profit organization promoting a new planetarium and science centre.
The Edmonton Space Sciences Centre officially opened on Canada Day in 1984.
Major additions and renovations throughout the 1990s turned the centre into a tourism hot spot with a café, gift shop and IMAX theatre. After a $14-million expansion in 2001, the centre was officially renamed the Telus World of Science in 2005.
TWOSE runs summer camps and education programs for local schools and residents.
Despite the ongoing closure, the centre said it will continue finding ways to bring science to the community through virtual programs and by accepting donations for supporting science education across Alberta.
As educational programs cannot be delivered at the science centre, Scarlett said the centre will be able to engage in more public outreach in schools across the province.
“The science centre has always done science outside of our building,” said Scarlett. “You will definitely see team purple out in the community at community events and pop-up locations, providing those sort of mind-blowing science moments that the community is used to.”