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Be the first Weblocal.ca user to review OIL SANDS DISCOVERY CENTREEditorial Reviews from the web
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December 14, 2011
At the south end of Fort McMurray on Hwy. 63, you'll find the Oil Sands Discovery Centre, a repository for all things oil sands agglomerated in a fun, interactive setting. While it might appeal to children, there's something slightly unnerving about an animated nutty professor guiding you through the science of what some have called the worst environmental catastrophe of the industrial age.... more
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Other Reviews from the web
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It's Amazing
August 04, 2014I think everyone should do this at least once in there lifetime it's an experience you'll never forget
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land of oil sand
August 02, 2014super cool !!!! they show all how to separate the oil from sand! amazing! i will never forget it! xxxxxxxxxxxx
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Very Pro Oil Sands
July 08, 2014The museum is interesting - we did the tour of the oil sands from the museum which I assume is all connected. It was interesting but very pro oil sands which is to be expected. You go on the Suncor facility and have a driving tour of it while watching movies make by Suncor. If you have your own vehicle... more
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The Oil Sands and how it works
June 30, 2014If you plan on working, living or visiting Fort McMurray, this is a great place to start your adventure. Lots and lots of information about how the oil sands operates, very educational and kid friendly. Although small, still packs a punch of information! The staff felt a bit unwelcoming but I didn't let that effect me visit. Such a great... more
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Educational but small
June 17, 2014I went to the Oil Sands Discovery Centre while I was in Fort Mac last weekend. They charge $7 for an adult but if you have a CAA card, you can get in for $5. It's small but lots of stuff to learn. Child friendly too, as they have a kids' discovery centre.
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Informative
June 06, 2014Very informative and interesting but kind of bothered that the multi billion $$ oilsands industry has to charge 7$ admission to tell everyone about themselves. Also the staff was very unfriendly.
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Best attraction in town
May 20, 2014If you are coming to Fort McMurray, you might as well learn about the unique resources that make up most of Alberta and are claimed here. The Center is world class and easy to understand for all ages. It is tuned for families and college alike. I had a day off in my work for Suncor and learned a lot... more
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Very informative
May 04, 2014It was well presented and informative. With the videos, models, and displays they have the information is easy to see and appreciate. I have a new appreciation for the amount of work it is to get the oil out of the ground.
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Must see if in Fort Mac
April 25, 2014
It wasn't very busy when I visited the Discovery Center so there wasn't a lot of people there which was really nice. Watched a film about the history of the oilsands and saw a presentation on the steps the oilsands go through to be separated, cleaned and used.
There's a little gift shop and seemed to be lots of interactive...
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Very Informative
April 14, 2014This is where you go to get truthful explanation of how the "oil sands" came about, how they do things now, etc. Excellent presentations, videos, and displays. There is even a "mock up Heavy Hauler truck" to give you the feel of how large the equipment is out at the mines. Every visitor to Fort McMurray should take the time... more
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Brilliant
March 04, 2014Wow i was really impressed with the amount of information and how it was presented. It was presented in such a way that it was easy to understand. I went for a tour of the sands afterwards and it was brilliant knowing all about it b4 the tour.
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Fun
February 14, 2014My kids had fun learning about everything! It was a experience that my children would like to do again.... more
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A GREAT way to learn about the Oil Sands Industry
November 24, 2013History from the beginning! Learn more about how the Oil Sands industry has progressed through the years. Lots of interactive, hands on projects to do, and you can sit in one of the old Heavy Haulers to experience how BIG this industry is (and it's now one of the "little" haulers)!! A great way to get informed and learn the... more
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Excellent information for adults and children
November 24, 2013This place is awesome! They have all sorts of information and hands-on displays. There is even a huge truck to climb in (big as the drivers seat is like sitting on the second floor of a house!!) There are also exhibits outside. A very informative tour.
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Oil Sands History
November 07, 2013A great place to visit when in Fort McMurray. If you'd like to see how oil is generated from oil sands, and the equipment required to do the work, then this is the place to visit.
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Very Interesting
October 13, 2013Brought my daughters there who we're visiting Fort McMurray, they found it very interesting and informative. A must see for anyone visiting, explains the different processes for separating the oil from the sand.
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Great information on the oil sands
October 12, 2013There is a lot of information out there both good and bad about the oil sands. It was nice to visit a place and learn about oil extraction, transportation, etc. only complaint is there could have been more stuff.
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Very educational
September 21, 2013I knew nothing about oil sand production and recovery but after spending a couple hours here it really explained it well. Who would have thought a museum like this would be fascinating but it was.
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If you are in Fort McMurray then see it
September 15, 2013Drove from Edmonton to see the Discovery Center and go on the Suncor tour to the Oil Sands. Not worth spending about $45 on it. The tour is informative but gives only Suncor's viewpoint on the inqdustry - would have loved to have more balanced information.
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What the oil sands really are
September 01, 2013If your kids are too young to go on site at the oil sands, this is the place to go. I now have a much better understanding of the oil sands, loved all the interactive parts and the kids really liked being up in the giant truck! things for all ages to touch and learn. the centre is well set... more
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Very informative
August 27, 2013Lots of interactive things to do to help understand the oil sands. Great place to visit - and the equipment garden was very cool!
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Really interesting
August 16, 2013If you can be there for a tour of the outside machines, it is worthwhile. We thought the walk-through exhibition was for children initially but were very impressed as we walked through. Very worthwhile, especially if you are visiting as part of the Suncorp tour.
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A great place to visit
July 31, 2013What to do with a week in Fort Mac babysitiing an 8 year old grandson? Take him to this place! Wonderful for kids(and adults). I enjoyed it as much as he did. Very educational.
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A great insight and worthy visit
July 21, 2013There was nothing that we disliked at all! The center is extremely well organized, interactive and very informative. There were plenty staff available to answer questions.
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Fun
July 15, 2013
I took out-of-town visitors to this venue.
Everyone enjoyed the film about the Oil Sands history and development. They've done a great job with displays about the process and have vastly improved the experience for children over the years by adding special kids' activities and interactive displays.
There is more potential, so leaving a little room for improvement, since some...
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Biggest Oil deposit in the world
July 13, 2013It is in Discovery Center that you will know how it all started... and you will know that more work and money will be discovered here in the next years to come.
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informative
June 06, 2013seen things I did'nt see before and things that tells and reminds us of what was and is now..some things made me think of what may be ahead for the grand kids to learn about and maybe work at.lots of info ..for children..
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History of Oil Sands Development
April 08, 2013The place has an excellent display of various oil sands development tools. The centre is well equipped with detailed explanation of oil sands exploration, mining and processing of bitumen obtained from the oil sands. The programme presenters are well versed with the technical aspects.
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It was just WoW
April 01, 2013I visited oil sand centre ... I like it ... It was eduction but in funny way ... U will learn about the history of oil sand ... The composition and all related things about oil sand ... There was a children interactive club ... The sevionir shop was so good to grape a gift of t shirt or oil... more
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Infomative and interactive
March 31, 2013Lots of nice exhibits very interesting discovering the history of oilsands and how the mining has grown to such HUGE scale. The huge haul truck inside was neat to sit in and get a feel from the drivers seat. The inteactive display in the theater on how the sand and oil are seperated was informative as well. Not a big... more
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Surprisingly fun
March 13, 2013I didn't know what to expect from this museum/discovery centre. I was pleasantly surprised by the fun and interactive nature of the centre. The informative movie and the demonstration with the actual bitumen mined was cool, and one of the best parts was you get to sit inside a life sized truck, push buttons and steer etc. Kids love it... more
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Very nice museum
March 11, 2013The museum has a lot of nice exhibits and the docent gave a good demonstration of the use of hot water to recover the oil from the oil sands. I particularly like the exhibit that shows the size of the trucks used to move the mined oil sand.
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Surprisingly interesting
February 28, 2013We had a couple of hours to kill and decided to pop in to see what we expected to be a short visit, but we ended up staying for nearly two and a half hours. It was very interesting and the enormous dumper truck was astonishing and kept the kids enthralled for ages. It is a useful and educational venue,... more
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museum
January 30, 2013Large hauler, gave an ecperiment on how to extract the oil from the bitumen, also mr. fitzsimmons from nova scotia who first came to the this region to determine economic viability of the area. the athabasca basin was bubbling with oil but it was totally immersed in the sand. some succeeded and some failed.
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Oil Sands Discovery Center Visit
January 28, 2013So well laid out, bright, informative. The film was great. Learned alot. The big machines and equip was well displayed. The write ups and pictures gave good detail.
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Great afternoon or morning filler
January 13, 2013
Very informative and interactive attraction. We left understanding the pros and cons of oil sands mining. The whole set up is designed to keep the kids amused and learning, while giving he adults extra information.
When we went they had an inflatable planetarium on loan form edmonton. This was fantastic. Staff were professional and informative. High
Y recommended if in...
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After you swallow the Kool-Aid, you'll learn all about the Oil Sands
October 13, 2012I left there knowing all about how the oil sands operates. Close up encounters with machinery and science. Helpful staff even gave a beaker experiment showing the bitumen and I couldn't get it off my finger for hours. Obviously, this is a huge self funding PR campaign for the tar sands. If you're looking for the dark side of this... more
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size doesn't matter
September 24, 2012fun interactive experience for all ages. don't let the size fool you. make sure to go outside and get pictures with the big machines. I've been twice now, once with my girls when they were little and they didn't want to get out of the truck, and this time with my father. I still liked playing in the kids section.
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Very informative
September 12, 2012I learned a lot of the oilsands. I was a bit overwhelmed but sitting at the steering wheel of the truck was quite an experience. My car tire is the size of a tread on this baby. I was impressed the whole place.
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First class facility: an interesting place even teems will find interesting
September 09, 2012
I took a tween and a teen for a tour. I live here in Fort McMurray but had never been and took an out of town teen along with my son. I was surprised at the large interactive displays inside that the kids especially enjoyed - I thought it would be a quick walk through visit.
Check the times online...
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I learned a lot
September 03, 2012A bit biased towards "selling" teh virtues of the oil industry (on which this community depends), but also a really interesting education. Do check out the gigantic machines in the park.
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Interesting
July 25, 2012Good introduction for what were doing in the region and how the industry here has developed over the years. Informative and worth your time if you're new to the area and the industry.
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Tour of the Alberta oil Sands Operations
July 25, 2012Go and see - take the 3 hour bus tour - 3 day advance registrations required for security check - can be done by phone - take your camera - some of the machinery is mind boggling in size - weekend is best - you get a complete tour of the site to see the digging, processing, and the completion... more
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Interesting Site
July 20, 2012Was in Fort Mac for work. Stopped in the site and was certainly worth it. Only took 2 hours to go through it. Good visit for someone who is not going to the oil sands themselves and does not know anything about them.
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Great education
June 20, 2012This discovery center is a great place to go to learn a lot about what fort mcmurray does. It is knowledgable for adults and children the same. I suggest this to anyone who wonders about the processes in the oilsands and wants to know more about the past, present and future of the athabasca oilsands.
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never thought oilsands would be interesting
May 27, 2012really, really informative, interesting and interactive fun exhibits!! fun for all ages! highly, highly recommend this for anyone who is interested in what actually happens in the oilsands.
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Informative Oil Sands Tour
May 26, 2012The Oil Sands Discovery Tour was well-organized and informative. The information center had hands-on displays that clearly showed the oil sands procedures. We came home with a better understanding of this important industry.
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WOW you have got to see this
May 25, 2012I have been trying to get here to see this for the last 2 trips, finally got to got, I am really glad I did too. It really explains the workings of the oil sands operations. 2 thumbs up from me.
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fun but can be better
May 22, 2012really kool to get what albertas alla bout and how things work.. should make make it more fun for kids include more activities games.. could attrack more ppl
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The Gateway to Ft.McMurray
April 28, 2012It was very informative , I strongly recommend it to anybody who comes to Ft.McMurray to learn about the Oilsands.
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