Okanagan Science Centre to Reopen on June 9
- Jun 1
- 2 min read
June 1 2026 - The Okanagan Science Centre has announced it will reopen to the public on Tuesday, June 9, following the suspicious fire on May 15 that forced the facility to close for several weeks.
The centre, located in Polson Park, had earlier indicated a best-case scenario for a possible reopening as early as June 1, but officials noted that the extent of smoke remediation required additional time.
The closure was a result of a Fire the morning of Friday, May 15.
When they arrived on scene Vernon Fire Rescue crews found flames in a covered entry alcove/door area at the rear of the building. The blazes was quickly knocked down limiting structural damage to that small section.
The fire was deemed suspicious, and the case was investigated by Vernon RCMP.
Despite the quick work by firefighters thick smoke spread throughout the building, causing serious smoke damage that required extensive cleanup.
Today the restoration and smoke remediation continues. Restoration crews are busy inside readying the facility for the upcoming reopening. Air scrubbers are running continuously while crews are cleaning walls and surfaces as well as removing porous materials.
The centre posted this update on its website:
“We are thrilled to announce that the Okanagan Science Centre will reopen to the public on Tuesday, June 9 following the structural fire on May 15th.
Over the past several weeks, restoration crews and staff have worked hard to help us recover.
While restoration work continues in the areas most affected by the fire, primarily the back stairwell and the basement programming room, we are excited to welcome visitors back to learn, explore and discover with us once again.”
The closure forced the cancellation of a number of events.
The MindBlown Okanagan Science Festival was cancelled due to the restoration work. However, the centre participated in the MindBlown Market at the Polson Night Market on May 22, and Bloomin’ Bingo was rescheduled to June 5 (with tickets remaining valid or refunds available).
On their website the non-profit expressed deep appreciation for community support through memberships, donations, and messages during the closure.
For the latest details, visit okscience.ca.
Okanagan Science Centre to Reopen on June 9
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