Entomica Insectarium is an insectarium and natural history museum located in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. First established in the Mill Market in 2014, Entomica is now located in the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre.

Entomica Insectarium
Map
46°30′17″N 84°19′26″W / 46.5047°N 84.3239°W / 46.5047; -84.3239
Date opened2014
Location50 Pim Street, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
DirectorChris Lee
ManagementJohn Dedes
Websitewww.entomica.com

Entomica Insectarium is a charitable organization,[1] and the first insectarium in Canada to be federally-approved to move their exotic insects off-site. As such, they have been delivering hands-on programs to schools, outreach programs, retirement residences and community events.[2] Entomica received funding from the Ontario government, through the provincial Community Building Fund to build their online outreach activities.[3] They have collaborated with local and regional partners, including the Art Gallery of Algoma, Clean North, Ermatinger Clergue National Historic Site, the Great Lakes Forestry Centre, the Ontario Forest Research Institute, Outspoken Brewery, and Science North.[4][5][6]

In 2007, Entomica and its bugs were invited to the Earth Day Weekend at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Entomica has been involved with Science North for the Sault Ste. Marie Science Festival since 2017,[7] and in 2022, brought their insects and arachnids across Northern Ontario alongside the Great Northern Ontario Roadshow.[8]

Entomica Insectarium was host to The Amazing Race Canada 5, with contestants subjected to the 'Cockroach Cranium', where multiple species of cockroaches were dropped on contestants' heads in a Plexiglass enclosure.[9][10]

Exhibits

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Entomica Insectarium has many insects and arachnids, as well as amphibians, reptiles, and freshwater and saltwater fishes.

Awards

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Entomica Insectarium has been awarded a number of awards for its work, including a “Making a Difference” Award and "CASCADE for Best Program – Small Institution" award for its Science for Seniors program from the Canadian Association of Science Centres.[11] They were also awarded the 2019 Tourism Ambassador Award from Tourism Sault Ste. Marie,[12] and the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre's 2016 SSMARt Innovation Award in Social Entrepreneurship.[13]

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References

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  1. ^ "Entomica Insectarium Charity Profile". Canada Helps. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Creepy crawly story time with Entomica". SooToday.com. 7 September 2016. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  3. ^ "Bushplane, Entomica receive combined $124k in funding". SooToday.com. 26 November 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  4. ^ "AGA, Ermatinger Clergue, Entomica join for three days of events". SooToday.com. 3 August 2022. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  5. ^ Brian Kelly (13 August 2022). "Busy as a bee for Entomica". Sault Star. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  6. ^ "Artsy rain barrel auction to support Entomica". SooToday.com. 18 April 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  7. ^ Darren Taylor (25 March 2017). "Sault's Entomica to pack up its bugs, go to big city". SooToday.com. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  8. ^ Brian Kelly (17 June 2022). "Science North brings events to Sault this weekend". Sault Star. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  9. ^ Jeff Klassen (17 September 2017). "Cockroach-filled boxes from Amazing Race Canada episode now available for use on locals". SooToday.com. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  10. ^ Debra Yeo (6 September 2017). "The Amazing Race Canada goes to the bugs in a skin-crawling Road Block". Toronto Star. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  11. ^ Darren Taylor (10 May 2016). "Creepy-crawly show wins awards". SooToday.com. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
  12. ^ "Tourism Sault Ste. Marie announces 2019 Award winners". SaultOnline.com. 8 November 2019. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Feast your eyes on this year's list of innovative Saultites". SooToday.com. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2022.