|
Adventure Traveler Garry Sowerby in his own words:
Tuesday, August 24
Sainte-Hélène, Montreal, Québec
Environmental Initiative #17
Biosphère, Montreal, Québec
The first time I ever set foot in the Biosphère was in
1967 when it was designed and built as the American Pavillion during
the World’s Fair Expo ’67. At the time, as a young
boy scout, I was awed by the idea that this magnificent sphere
could be a temporary exhibit. What would they do with the structure
once the Expo was over? Dismantle it? Throw it away? It didn’t
seem right.
Well, it was good to be back in the ‘Sphere almost 40 years
later and see that it was being put to such extraordinary use.
As Anne Charpentier and Yves Bélanger explained while they
led us on the tour, the Biosphère in its present incarnation
as a Museum was almost in its tenth year. In June of 2005, the
only museum in North America dedicated to showcasing, observing
and studying water and the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence ecosystem celebrates
its 10-year anniversary.
The bustle of children excitedly dashing from exhibit to exhibit
in the pavillion was encouraging especially considering that the
fire that destroyed the outer acrylic skin in 1976 almost ended
the existence of the masterpiece of American visionary architect
R. Buckminster Fuller.
The Biosphère supports the theory that the Mission Green
team has been trying to formulate since Mission Green began 9 days
ago. One of the important elements we’ve discovered in our
trek is that an environmental conciousness starts with education.
The Museum in the Biosphère targets
children aged 8 to 14 but the Mission Green Team (all adults!)
learned a lot and had a great time, too. There are interactive
exhibits that focus on water sounds, sights, myths and history.
There are breathtaking views of the St. Lawrence River and the
Montreal skyline from 30 metres up on the Lookout deck. There
is a labyrinth of cheerfully-decorated fire hydrants created
by 1,500 children from the City of Montreal and environs. A room
called Creative Workshop allows children to create a work of
art with an environmental twist.
Kids, as we all know, are highly influential
people and they in turn educate adults. Like Bill, who was brushing
his teeth in the morning before starting Mission Green when Katie,
his 7-year-old daughter, handed him a glass and said, “Dad, if you use this
glass to rinse, you’ll waste less water!”
Like the vision that R. Buckminster Fuller
had when he designed the Biosphère to use a minimum amount
of materials while freeing up a maximum amount of space, the
vision of the City of Montreal and Environment Canada in creating
an interactive museum dedicated to the study and preservation
of water, deserves commendation.
Mission Green pays tribute to Anne Charpentier
and Yves Bélanger
for bringing the vision to reality on a daily basis.
Please visit:
http://www.biosphere.ec.gc.ca
You are now leaving the mission green website to an external
website.
|
