Children’s Museum receives Trillium grant for community space
The London Children’s Museum is a step closer to welcoming children to its new location at 100 Kellogg Lane. The museum received a grant Thursday to help cover the cost of a new meeting space at its future site.
“Children need a sense of community, they need a sense of belonging, they need spaces that are tailored to how they learn and how they engage with the world around them,” said Kate Ledgley, executive director, London Children’s Museum.
The provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation has announced $150,000 to go towards The Annex. It will be one of eight exhibit spaces at the museum. It’s described as a multi-purpose space to be used as an event venue for travelling exhibits, art installations, and community events.
“There’s been a renewed sense of the need for community spaces and the need to get people together again,” said Amelia Sloan, Ontario Trillium Foundation representative. “Together again enjoying each other, friends, community.”
London North Centre MPP Terence Kernaghan was also on hand for the announcement. He told the gathering that his first job was at the Children’s Museum.
The future London Children’s Museum at 100 Kellogg Lane in London, Ont. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London)
He said he’s happy to see the new project flourishing.
“Great to see this vision coming together,” he said. “Something that was put on hold throughout the pandemic while materials costs went through the roof, but Londoners have really gotten behind this project.”
The Annex was designed with the input of more than 500 children and their families, according to Emily Schinbein, chair of the London Children’s Museum Board of Directors.
“I think they’re going to be wowed by this space,” she said. “If they’ve come to our old one they’ve had a great time, they’ve had wonderful experiences, learned through play, and then they come here it’s just going to blow their mind.”
The new museum comes with a price tag of $23 million. Museum officials say $19 million has been secured so far.
The museum is moving from its existing location on Wharncliffe Road, where it has been located since 1982.
Construction of the new space is expected to be complete by fall of 2024.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Iran President Ebrahim Raisi found dead at helicopter crash site, state media says
Iranian president, the country’s foreign minister and others have been found dead at the site of a helicopter crash Monday after a search through a foggy, mountainous region of the country’s northwest.
The push to Parliament's summer hiatus is about to begin, here's what you need to know
When MPs file back in to the House of Commons on Tuesday, it will be for the final five-week parliamentary push before hitting the barbecue circuit. Looking ahead to what could be a raucous rush to the summer hiatus, CTVNews.ca spoke with top House representatives to get a sense of what's atop their priority list.
ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Netanyahu
The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court said Monday he is seeking arrest warrants for Israeli and Hamas leaders, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in connection with their actions during the seven-month war.
What do we know so far about the mysterious crash of the helicopter carrying Iran's president?
The apparent crash of a helicopter carrying Iran's president and foreign minister on Sunday sent shock waves around the region.
Stittsville residents seeking answers as bylaw cracks down on street basketball nets
Stittsville residents on Kearnsley Way are seeking answers after an unusual bylaw crackdown on Friday. Every home with a basketball net received a ticket instructing homeowners to remove their nets from the road.
Court eases internet restrictions for Sask. man who matched with a 15-year-old girl on Tinder
A Saskatchewan man who had a sexual encounter with a 15-year-old girl he met on Tinder successfully appealed to shorten release conditions barring him from online dating.
'A horrible way to start the summer': 3 killed in serious boat crash on lake north of Kingston, Ont.
Three people were killed and five others were injured Saturday night following a boat crash on the Buck Bay area of Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont., the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) said.
Michael Cohen to face more grilling as Trump's hush money trial enters its final stretch
Donald Trump's hush money trial is heading into the final stretch, with prosecutors' last and star witness back on the stand Monday for more grilling before the former president's lawyers get their chance to put on a case.
Walmart, Costco refusing to sign grocery code of conduct 'untenable': industry minister
Industry Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne says it's 'untenable' for 'smaller players' like Walmart and Costco to delay signing on to the government- and industry-led grocery code of conduct, now that industry giant Loblaw has agreed to do so.