IMAX set to reopen, but Saskatchewan Science Centre still closed

It will take a little while longer before the Saskatchewan Science Centre will reopen for exploration, but the province’s largest movie screen is ready for summer discovery.

The Kramer IMAX Theatre, part of the Science Centre in Regina, will reopen July 23.

“We’ve spent months looking at ways to adapt our operations to the current global pandemic to ensure that the safety of our staff and guests is protected,” Saskatchewan Science Centre CEO Sandy Baumgartner said in a release.

Baumgartner is confident in the new safety measures the IMAX has implemented to protect visitors from COVID-19.

These changes include a move to online-only ticketing, a no-cash policy for concessions purchasing, revised seating arrangements and enhanced cleaning procedures.

Masks will be required to be worn by all guests when the theatre reopens until they are safely seated in the auditorium and distanced from other visitors.

“I’m just really excited to have some of our staff back again in the building, to get that popcorn-popper fired up and get that smell going again through the theatre and the lobby again and to see people in the theatre enjoying all that great IMAX giant-screen content,” said Ryan Holota, vice-president of operations at the Saskatchewan Science Centre.

The theatre’s opening weekend is reserved for Science Centre members. Shows to the public will begin the following week on July 30.

The Science Centre itself, with its interactive and touch-inclusive exhibits, will not reopen until the beginning of August.

“It will take a little while longer until we are ready to welcome visitors,” Baumgartner said.

Holota said the centre’s reopening is an ongoing process.

“Absolutely it will be more sanitization,” Holota said. “We will certainly be limiting attendance and following all the provincial guidelines but also, it will probably be just a different experience.

“We’re starting very small and slow, testing and improving everything just like a good scientist would,” Holota said.
The CEO said a 70 per cent drop in operational revenue over the past four months has not helped with the costly changes required for the centre’s exhibit enhancements to make it COVID-19 safe.

The centre plans to continue its online content, including virtual day camps and online coding workshops.