Telus World of Science pushes reopening back to next year

Telus World of Science pushes reopening back to next year

City confirms major restoration work can begin

Telus World of Science Edmonton has announced it will stay closed until next year due to flood damage.

After a severe storm on July 10 flooded the centre and forced its closure, TWOSE began repairs. The centre originally told the public they planned to reopen in November 2026.

In a press release issued Aug. 18, the centre said the city confirmed that full restoration work is now expected to be completed in December 2026, with a plan to reopen to the public in early 2027.

Edmonton mops up — again — in what is officially the rainiest summer on record

“While it’s later than our initial estimate, confirmation that major repair and restoration work can now begin is an important milestone,” said Constance Scarlett, president & CEO of Telus World of Science in the release.

“We now have a clearer path forward, and our team is focused on completing this work carefully, safely, and responsibly so we can welcome our community back to the Science Centre.”

In mid-July, the centre said nearly 70 per cent of the centre’s full-time and part-time employees were being temporarily laid off. At the time, Scarlett said 147 staff members in total were impacted.

Recurring storms flooded areas of the building that were already undergoing recovery work. The centre said those incidents were a contributing factor to remaining closed longer than originally planned.

An Edmonton staple, the Telus World of Science can trace its roots back almost 50 years, when the Edmonton Space Sciences Foundation launched in 1978 as a private non-profit organization promoting a new planetarium and science centre.

The Edmonton Space Sciences Centre officially opened on Canada Day in 1984.

Stormy weather shaking up Edmonton-area festivals

Major additions and renovations throughout the 90s turned the centre into a tourism hotspot with a cafe, gift shop and IMAX theatre. After a $14 million expansion in 2001, the centre was officially renamed the Telus World of Science in 2005.

TWOSE runs summer camps and education programs for local schools and residents.

Despite the ongoing closure, the centre said it will continue finding ways to bring science to the community through virtual programs and by accepting donations for supporting science education across Alberta.

Raquel Medina is a journalist based in Edmonton, Alta. She is a 2026 CBC News Summer Scholar and previously worked with CBC's Investigative Unit in Toronto.