Science North in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, has received two separate regional government grants totalling CA$3.7m.

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) has granted the science centre CA$2.3m in order to create two new travelling exhibits and four new object theatres.

NOHFC has also agreed to invest a further US$1.4m towards the expansion of Dynamic Earth, Science North’s sister site, which opened in 2003.

The fund will be used to build a two-storey, 410sq m (4,400sq ft) expansion that will house temporary exhibits and new multimedia experiences.

The new site is scheduled to open in spring 2008 and the first new exhibition housed at the revamped centre will concentrate on the history of diamonds.

Science North chief executive, Jim Marchbank, said: “This investment signals the start of tremendous renewal at the science centre, which will continue over the next three years. “

Rick Bartolucci, chair of NOHFC, said: “The new exhibits support the broader northern tourism industry and demonstrate Science North’s growing capacity to put out world=class education and scientific content that can captivate people of all ages.”