Released on September 20, 2016
Visitation at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum (RSM) is on the rise. Total visitation during the summer of 2016 increased 30 per cent compared to the same period in 2015. When compared to the average over the last 10 years, visitation was up 27 per cent throughout the summer months. The increase in visitation is credited, in a large part, to the launch of new exhibits and programs, popular science-based and family-friendly events, and the important research performed by RSM scientists.“The staff at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum are a passionate and dedicated group,” Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Ken Cheveldayoff said. “The teams in programming and exhibits, and research and collections deserve a lot of credit for the work they’ve done to increase the profile of the museum both locally and internationally.”
Snakes Alive, a new live snake exhibit, has been very popular this summer. Snakes Alive features all nine native species of snakes in Saskatchewan and inspires a deeper understanding of nature by showcasing the intricate beauty of wildlife found right in our own province.
Visitors may look forward to another new display launching in October, the only known Tyrannosaurus rex coprolite (fossilized dung) in the world. The coprolite is part of the museum’s collection and has just been returned to Regina after being displayed at the Nagoya City Science Museum in Japan.
Working alongside the Friends of the Museum, RSM programming staff are continuously developing new public programs and hosting great public events.
This fall brings the return of Super Sunday Movies on Sunday afternoons, Yoga at the Museum, smARTies and Megamunch Club on Tuesday evenings, and Young Explorer Club on Friday evenings. October will see the launch of a new Halloween event, 7 Snakes, 7 Sins where guests will navigate through science-based challenges and enjoy food and drink along the way.
Follow the RSM on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or visit www.royalsaskmuseum.ca/programs for more details.
Making science accessible and understandable is a goal of the RSM and recently, scientists have received national and international attention for a variety of scientific discoveries.
Notably, Cory Sheffield (RSM Curator of Invertebrate Zoology) was part of a team that discovered a new species of bumble bee, the first such discovery in North America in the past 90 years, and Ryan McKellar (RSM Curator of Invertebrate Palaeontology) was part of an international team that described the remarkable preservation of 99 million year-old bird wings found in a piece of amber.
The RSM, located at 2445 Albert Street, is open daily from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Visit www.royalsaskmuseum.ca or call 306-787-2815. Admission is by donation.
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For more information, contact:
Jill Sveinson
Parks, Culture and Sport
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5781
Email: jill.sveinson@gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-527-8152