interpretation centre
The ASTROLab is officially recognized by the Ministère de la Culture et des Communications du Québec (MCC) as a museal institution in the category « interpretation centre »
our mission
Mont-Megantic ASTROLab’s mission:
- to raise awareness and introduce the population, and especially young people, to scientific and technical culture in the fields of astronomy, astrophysics, cosmology, aerospace and related disciplines;
- showcasing the results of research and technological advances in these areas (in particular those made at the Mont-Mégantic Observatory);
- and increase interest in scientific and technical careers.
In addition, following the acquisition of the assets and management of the operations of the interpretation centre by the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (Sépaq), the Corporation has also set itself the mandate to:
- position itself as the guardian of the astronomy science outreach mission of Mont-Mégantic National Park;
- act as an advisory body to park management to provide scientific expertise;
- participate in the development of the astronomy programm and infrastructure
- initiate and/or collaborate on innovative projects to improve the number and/or quality of services offered in astronomy.
The corporation has also been mandated by the community to be the organization that is officially responsible for the Mont-Mégantic International Dark Sky Reserve. Finally, following the takeover of the assets of the Festival d’astronomie, the Corporation has given itself the mandate: to assume, in collaboration with the Parc national du Mont-Mégantic, the financial and technical responsibility of the Festival d’astronomie
regular MEMBErS
The Corporation is comprised of nine (9) regular members who have been selected to provide the ASTROLab with scientific expertise in astronomy, to be well-grounded in the field, and to meet various needs of the organization.
a member appointed for life because of his outstanding contribution :
Bernard Malenfant,
ASTROLab Founder
other members :
- René Doyon,
- Director, Mont-Megantic Observatory
- Dany Gareau,
- Parc national du Mont-Mégantic Director
- Sonia Cloutier,
- general director, MRC du Granit
- Dominic Provost,
- general director, MRC du Haut-Saint-François
- Louie Bernstein,
- retired and astronomer from the Planetarium
- Claude Charron,
- conseiller municipal, Lennoxville arrondissement, Sherbrooke
- Martin Aubé,
- physics professor at Sherbrooke CEGEP and coordonnator, group Graphyx
- Vincent Desmarais,
- amateur astronomer, premier ingénieur, Technologies de Radio-Canada.
- Julie Bolduc-Duval,
- Executive director, Discover the Universe
honorary MEMBErS
In recognition of an outstanding contribution to the ASTROLab, the Board can to designate, by resolution, any person as an honorary member of the Corporation.
To date, those who have been granted honorary membership at the ASTROLab are:
- Steve MacLean,
- Canadian astronaut and honorary Patron of the ASTROLab
- Hubert Reeves,
- astrophysicist
- Karel Velan
- president and founder of Velan inc. and donor of Cosmolab Velan (deceased)
- André St-Hilaire,
- businessman and donor of the Observatoire populaire (deceased)
- Jean-Pierre Urbain,
- astronomy communicator (deceased)
From the Forest to the Stars, created by the artist Ida Rivard, is now permanently exhibited in the group room of the ASTROLab. This triptych is the result of an unusual collaboration between the artist and the ASTROLab, both mobilized for the awareness of the International Year of Forests. Concerned by our increasingly global Western way of life, where consumption and the taste of the day are levelling off the ancestral experience, Ida Rivard reacts to the media pollution of ideas and ideals and creates, from recycled materials, of the worldly follies that she wishes for the healthiest. Visit her website to see for yourself!
management team
- Dany Gareau
- director
- Marie-Georges Bélanger
-
philanthropic campaign manager
head of customer services and marketing
- Sébastien Giguère
- scientific coordinator and head of education
- Mélina Dubois-Verret
- head of conservation
- Camille-Antoine Ouimet
- head of maintenance
from earth to the stars
A bewitching journey of initiation to astronomy and nature for the whole family! Mont-Mégantic National Park is part of the Quebec parks system managed by the Société des établissements de plein air du Québec (Sépaq). The park’s fundamental mission is the conservation and enhancement of the natural environment through education. At Mont-Mégantic National Park, Nature in its entirety is in the spotlight. Astronomy, geology, biology and ecology are perfectly natural in a setting of incomparable majesty. Mont-Mégantic National Park is about science and beauty, nature and culture, knowledge and responsibility. It is a powerful mountain, wild nature, an unforgettable starry sky.
Mont-Mégantic National Park is Nature on all scales. And this is the most fascinating story: that of the Universe, of Earth, of Life. This is our story. For the presence of living beings on Earth today, like the existence of Earth itself, is related to the physical conditions of the farthest past of the Universe. Life is dust of stars. This is surely one of the greatest discoveries of the century. Protecting and safeguarding it will be one of the biggest challenges to come.
Mont-Mégantic National Park is the only Quebec park to offer world-class astronomy-related activities thanks to the ASTROLab, its interpretive centre with three thematic rooms and a multimedia room, and its three Observatories.
Come and discover a protected natural environment, where we witness a happy marriage between the activities of the Earth and the Stars !
