The Big Little Science Centre is moving to the former Value Village location on Seymour Street (Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds)

By Chad Klassen

BIG LITTLE SCIENCE CENTRE

Big Little Science Centre to move to former Value Village location downtown

Sep 19, 2019 | 12:06 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Big Little Science Centre is moving to the other side of the Thompson River with hopes a more central location will attract more visitors to learn about everything science.

The centre announced on Thursday it has signed a three-year agreement with the landowner of the old Value Village building on Seymour Street.

“I think being downtown will help with our tourism aspect, and maybe a little more walk-by traffic,” said executive director of the Big Little Science Centre Gord Stewart.

The new location will limit activities to inside with no outdoor space to utilize. Stewart says the centre will take up a portion of the building, needing to renovate to fit its needs.

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“We have to figure out the layout, so there are going to be a few more meetings with the landowner. We’re going to have to do some improvements because it’s a big open space. We need some classroom-style rooms, so it would need walls,” he said. “The washroom facilities need to be upgraded to the point where we can have the capacity to bring people in.”

The Big Little Science Centre has been in Kamloops since 2000, started by retired science teacher Gordon Gore.

It has been primarily located on the North Shore and has been forced to move a number of times. Most recently, the centre has been asked to move from its current location, the old Happyvale Elementary School on Holt Avenue, following the Parkcrest Elementary fire. Stewart is hoping the new location downtown is more stable.

“It has the potential as a permanent location,” he said. “We’ll see how things pan out down the road. We are looking at a longer-term opportunity.”

The Big Little Science Centre is hopeful to move into the Seymour Street location in early November. The building is currently being occupied by Spirit Halloween.