Saying it will promote the Event Centre, the LaSalle Landing waterfront project, and the Front Road Business District, LaSalle town councillors have approved a large-scale exhibit for next winter.
"I think this is a great addition to the town, something new and something unique," said Mayor Crystal Meloche.
The as-of-yet unnamed attraction is a partnership with Imagine Exhibitions. It would use up to 10,000 sq. ft. of space at the Event Centre and contain ten zones with displays and hands-on activities.
Imagine Exhibitions is behind the cancelled Imagine Van Gogh exhibit in Windsor. Other attractions include "Harry Potter: The Exhibit," "Downton Abbey: The Exhibit," "Science Fiction - Science Fact," and "Titanic: The Exhibit."
The town is spending $500,000 to host the exhibit for three months. The cost includes rental fees, shipping, set up and tear down, marketing, staffing, security, and cleaning.
Council hopes to recoup some of the cost by selling tickets to the public, applying for funding from senior levels of government, and partnering with sponsors. While the exhibit is unlikely to break even, staff assured councillors the benefits outweigh the financial risks.
Town staff are confident the exhibit will be well-received because there is nothing similar in the region.
"An event of this magnitude could act as a catalyst for future commercial activity in the area," said Director of the Culture and Recreation Department Patti Funaro.
The "turn-key" exhibit was developed in consultation with prominent scientists, academics, and subject matter experts. It comes with an educational guide for teachers and school groups.
