When we left off in a previous edition of Then & Now, Queen Elizabeth II had accepted the invitation to Sudbury for the official opening of Science North, our gleaming new science centre perched on the rocks at the far western end of Ramsey Lake.
Everything was going according to plans. Until the Royal Visit was postponed as newly appointed Prime Minister John Turner famously decided to call an early federal election for September (an election he lost to Tory leader Brian Mulroney). The Royal Visit would now have to wait and Science North would have to open without its Royal blessing.
So it was that, on Oct. 4, 1984, Her Majesty, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, traveled to the home of that massive 30-foot high nickel, with its portrait of her father, George VI, to officially open Science North.
Dr. David Pearson stated in an interview following Queen Elizabeth’s passing that having her majesty attend the opening of Science North really helped to put it on the map. “She was gracious and she was smiling. And one felt that one was in the presence of somebody who had the stature that was unique," Pearson said.
Jeff Kofman, a reporter with Global News in 1984 and tasked with following the Royal Couple, wrote back in 2022: “I remember watching her take particular interest in a display of a living beaver and its beaver lodge, with one side of the lodge in glass, so visitors could peek inside the beaver’s home. The beaver is featured on the Canadian five-cent piece, along with the Queen. The Queen looked at the beaver, the beaver looked at the Queen. In my news report that night I playfully noted that for perhaps the first time ever, the Queen looked face to face at the other side of the Canadian nickel.”
While most Sudburians watched the visit from chilly posts along the route through the city or outdoors at Science North, 375 individuals joined her indoors for a civic luncheon in the Cavern. The guests included board members, staff, and major donors, as well as the usual coterie of politicians and citizens selected by the mayor's office.
The rock walls of the room made it a unique setting for such an event. Her Majesty’s entrance was greeted with warm applause, to the stirring sound of bagpipes, played for the occasion by Captain Sam Laderoute of the Copper Cliff Highlanders. During the meal, a 17-member version of the Sudbury Symphony Orchestra provided music.
Three police forces, the RCMP, Scotland Yard, and the OPP all had representatives in the kitchen. All food leaving the kitchen area for the Cavern was accompanied by a member of one of the forces, to prevent any tampering with the food.
Guests at the event all seemed honoured to attend. Sudbury alderman (and later Liberal MP) Diane Marleau said the night before the event that she was very excited at being able to attend. "You never think something like this will actually happen to you," she said, "getting to meet the Queen." Marleau also said that she felt the Queen's visit would be great for the city and Science North, focusing national attention here.
When the visit came to its conclusion, Queen Elizabeth immediately left for Winnipeg, while Prince Philip remained in Sudbury for a few hours to visit the Laurentian University Arboretum, and the Sudbury Theatre Centre where he presented the Duke of Edinburgh Awards to Northern Ontario recipients.
Diana and Charles
Exactly seven years (and 20 days later), the City of Sudbury and Science North played host to two future Kings, when Charles and Diana, the Prince and Princess of Wales, came to town on October 24 1991. (Now, I know what you’re going to say, “Didn’t you just write two future kings?” We’ll get to that later).
The Prince and Princess of Wales were scheduled to arrive in the city for a variety of public appearances, but the first (and most important) stop would be Science North.
A delayed arrival of Charles and Diana didn't dampen the spirits of the outdoor crowd estimated at 4,000, or the 500 guests invited to a special reception for the royal couple inside Science North.
If anything, the wait added to the party atmosphere that prevailed throughout the afternoon. Dara Mulcahey, executive assistant at the Sudbury Board of Education, said at the time that close to 2,000 schoolchildren would be among the throngs in attendance on the grounds of Science North.
Those same flag-waving school children would lead the cheering as the royal couple strolled past the crowd, stopping on occasion to shake hands, accepting flowers and exchanging a few words with those in the front rows. Predictably, the loudest ovations were reserved for Diana.
"It was marvellous, just marvellous. My dreams are realized," resident Edith Arrowsmith exclaimed after Prince Charles and Princess Diana strolled past her during the official welcoming ceremony at Science North. “This is now the third generation of the royal family that I've seen in Sudbury over a 52-year period.”
"What a wonderful welcome for the Royal Highnesses, the Prince and Princess of Wales,” Premier Bob Rae commented during his welcoming address.
In his brief address to the crowd, Prince Charles also commented on the “wonderfully warm welcome" he and Princess Diana had received.
“Thank you all, more than I can say, for such a heartfelt and stirring welcome,” said Charles while also apologizing for the delay in the couple's arrival.
The welcome was so raucous that even the 21-gun salute for the royal couple registered on Science North's seismograph. The blasts from the 105-mm Howitzer guns showed up as little vibrations, said geosphere manager Ruth Debicki.
Following outdoor public speeches, the couple proceeded slowly from the top floor of the centre, led by Premier Bob Rae and Science North CEO Jim Marchbank. Many guests were able to chat with the royal pair as they made their way through the Science North exhibits.
Prince Charles seemed eager to try a number of the experiments. Stopping at one that tested dexterity by requiring the participant to pick up macaroni and buttons wearing a rubber glove, he asked what if he didn't do it well.
"I said, ‘I guess you were a bungle bum’,'” said Katherine McKenny, a Science North volunteer. Later, Prince Charles, who was obviously slowly balding, commented to Jennifer Pink, a director at Science North, that he "wasn't very knowledgeable" during a demonstration with a hair dryer.
With Charles looking on, Diana petted the centre's resident beaver, Needjee (One out-of-town reporter was overheard asking another on the way to the third floor geosphere: "What's this beaver called anyway? Rambo?"). And, later she tested the strength of her grip in an experiment at the Alex Baumann Performance Lab.
This experience left her rather flushed from the exertion. Princess Diana tested both hands, even holding the measuring device over her head for more leverage. "She wondered if she was any good," said Science North technician Steve Sloan at the time. “She was blushing a lot," added Sloan. "She was laughing through the whole thing. She's a really good sport."
Diana even urged Rae to try to play a floor piano with his feet, but the premier balked. "Go ahead," said the smiling princess to the premier as he tried to move quickly away from the fourth-floor Infosphere exhibit. They then made their way to the facility's Snowflake Room where a private lunch was attended by about 120 of the guests.
Following lunch, the couple spent the afternoon apart, with Diana visiting patients at the Northeastern Ontario Regional Cancer Centre and women at Genevra House, while Charles pursued his environmental interests with a tour of Inco facilities, and a ceremonial first tapping of a new furnace. The day ended with the couple’s return to Toronto where the Royal yacht was docked.
Little royals visit
Now, as for that second future king. The Prince and Princess of Wales were so impressed with Science North that they decided to send their children up for a visit.
A day after their parents visited, Prince William, 9, and Prince Harry, 7, spent three hours at Science North "just having fun," said CEO Jim Marchbank, to which he added, “I would hope that the visit by their parents confirmed that this was something that they would enjoy.”
Clement Tousignant, the federal media co-ordinator for the royal visit to Ontario confirmed this when asked: “They liked Science North and they decided it would be a good activity for the princes to see.”
Dressed casually, the princes arrived at the science centre at noon. Their arrival went unnoticed by most other visitors to Science North. To unwitting visitors, it was just another day. There was no pomp and pageantry surrounding the visit because it was organized as part of a relaxing holiday from school for the princes.
They were escorted by Marchbank, their nanny and a security official, while a number of plainclothes British security and RCMP officers spread out throughout the facility.
With no obtrusive photographers or reporters in sight, it didn't take long for the young princes to immerse themselves in the hands-on exhibits. “They were pretty tense to begin with, but they really loosened up as the day went on," said Alan Nursall, Science North director of program development. "They were absolutely taken by almost everything they did. They were having a blast.'
"Like all children, they're thoroughly enjoying themselves," Peter Brown, a member of the British security team, said shortly before the princes broke for lunch in the Science North cafeteria. Following a lunch of hamburgers and french fries, the boys walked back up the winding ramp to the exhibits. William even appeared pleasantly surprised when he came upon the centre's resident beaver, Needjee, which was walking in a viewing area halfway up the ramp. "A beaver!" William shouted to his nanny.
Then it was on to the third floor, where the party spent the greatest amount of time. Prince William seemed to enjoy blending into the crowd of children. William hopped from stool to stool, eagerly asking questions and listening to comments by other youngsters, most of whom did not realize they were in the presence of royalty.
“He asked the usual standard kid questions," said Alan Nursall, who was with the two boys while they were in the atmosphere area. “I think very few children realized they were playing with one of the next heirs to the throne.”
He said both princes wanted the opportunity to try things themselves. These included creating a "tornado" in a cylinder with liquid nitrogen, which they succeeded in doing with Nursall's help. William also enjoyed making dish soap rainbows, so much so that Nursall had to go for more soap.
At a rainbow exhibit, Science North volunteer Rachelle Robitaille used a specially filtered light to turn Harry's face green. “He thought it was great," Robitaille said, "then he wanted to turn my face orange, so he did that."
Harry also spent some time in the Discovery Theatre, where staff were demonstrating bubble-making for numerous other children. Although the youngster tried to emulate the bubbles he saw being made, he didn't have much success.
After the princes had participated in a number of experiments and exhibits, often running from one attraction to the other, Nursall asked Prince Harry if he was having fun. "This place is just brilliant!" was his unequivocal reply. While the princes blended in with dozens of other unassuming children, they didn't go unnoticed by some fellow visitors.
Martin MacDonald and Darryl Taylor, Grade 7 students at Robert Jack Public School, took notice after overhearing a security official inform a Science North employee that the royal visitors had arrived.
"It was fun meeting them. They were really nice guys," said MacDonald, who mingled with the princes at a number of exhibits, “I asked William how he liked one of the computers he was using and he said it was okay." Taylor found the princes to be "just normal kids, wearing normal clothes and everything. They were really down-to-earth."
With the visit complete, they were hustled to a waiting station wagon, but not before the boys were each presented with a dinosaur poster by Jim Marchbank. Upon the receipt of his, William was reminded by his nanny to thank Marchbank and shake hands. The prince complied, then joined little Harry inside the car. The motorcade then left for the airport.
Marchbank summed up their visit perfectly upon their departure. “They were able to come in and have a pleasant visit, a similar visit to the one other kids had here today. They were discovering science and just having fun."
As we close, one would hope that at some point in the near future, William and Kate, the new Prince and Princess of Wales, will follow in their family’s footsteps and give Science North a visit with their children. (Someone, please send this along to Buckingham Palace, quick!)
And, maybe, unlike his father and grandmother before him, Prince William will make it up to that Big Nickel on the hill to get a glimpse of his great-grandfather staring off across the landscape of a city much changed since his own visit 85 years ago.
Jason Marcon is a writer and history enthusiast in Greater Sudbury. He runs the Coniston Historical Group and the Sudbury Then and Now Facebook page. Then & Now is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.
