SPAO Open House

Step into a tropical paradise where over 100 live butterflies glide through lush greenery. Marvel at stunning species such as the blue morpho, swallowtails, and monarchs as pupae from Costa Rica and the Philippines transform into these beautiful creatures.Bright clothing may attract butterflies, offering a chance to admire them up close. On-site science interpreters share fascinating insights into their lives. Tickets are limited—plan ahead to enjoy this captivating tropical experience.

Discover Qikiqtait: Where Inuit Knowledge and Innovation Come Together, a groundbreaking exhibition showcasing the leadership of the Sanikiluarmiut of Sanikiluaq. Through research, education, environmental stewardship, and the harvesting of eider down — the warmest feather in the world — this exhibition highlights their innovation and resilience. Developed by the Arctic Eider Society with the Canadian Museum of Nature, it celebrates the community’s enduring connection to the land, sea, and each other.

No Place is an exhibition by Ottawa-Gatineau artist Shannon Whittle featuring a series of reproduced and reconfigured paintings of imagined landscapes. Drawing on historical landscape painting, media imagery, and personal experience, Whittle explores the delicate interconnections of ecosystems threatened by the climate crisis and human activity. Her layered, textural works evoke both grief and hope, offering space to reflect on new ways of relating to the natural world. For more information on the event, consult their website.