The Royal Botanical Gardens is located on Cootes Paradise, a provincially significant wetland that has undergone considerable environmental degradation in the past, and is now being rehabilitated with funds from the federal government. The funding included an education component. RBG staff decided to produce new exhibits focussing on the rehabilitation of Cootes Paradise in their Nature Interpretive Centre.

Apropos Planning won the contract to re-develop this 1000 square foot exhibit space.

The budget was tight -- only $45,000 -- but staff wanted good interactive exhibits and an introductory film. Working with Peter Sit as designer, Apropos developed an interpretive plan and budget that met with the client's approval. The exhibits opened on time and on budget.

An interesting interactive exhibit is called "Make like a Carp". It consists of a standard aquarium filled with water, with silty sand on the bottom. Visitors manipulate two plastic carp in the aquarium by means of a lever in a slot on the top. The moving carp stir up the sediments and make the water murky. This is exactly what happened in Cootes Paradise before the carp were finally eliminated via a barrier.

Client: Royal Botanical Gardens

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APROPOS PLANNING
Ottawa Office: 613-232-7826,
Owen Sound Office: 519-372-0322