How the Night Sky Created a Building

By: Gary Dick, posted to an internal City of Edmonton website.

In 1960 Edmonton was the site of the first civic planetarium in Canada.

In 1857, astronomer Sir John Frederick William Herschel wrote, “The stars are the land-marks of the universe.“ A Dutch optician patented the first telescope in 1608. He named the three-times-magnifier device the “looker.” One year later, Galileo became the first person recorded to have pointed a telescope skyward. 

Ancient observation sites reveal that people stared up at the night sky and marked the course of the planets and stars, and early astronomers invented tools like the astrolabe and the celestial sphere.

In Edmonton, there was a very active astronomy club inspired by the enthusiasm of Dr. J.W. Campbell, a university professor. Under his direction, the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, (RASC), Edmonton Centre, was formed in 1932.

With the announcement in 1958 that Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip would visit Edmonton the following year, City Council considered ways to commemorate the royal visit. Many proposals came forward including statues, parks, and an observatory. Then S. Frank Page, Assistant Secretary and editor of  Stardust, the RASC newsletter, proposed a planetarium instead of an observatory citing that, as the city grew, urban lighting would affect star viewing.

Members of RASC were involved in submissions, and Council approved their proposal in March 1959. In July of that year, at Coronation Park, Queen Elizabeth attended the sod-turning.

As part of his speech, Mayor Hawrelak said, “In commemoration of this royal visit in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and fifty-nine, it is the wish of your loyal and devoted people to erect a building of masonry, brick, and stone at this location. A structure that will serve during the years ahead as a practical and pleasurable monument to perpetuate the memory of this great occasion... May it always be in keeping with the spirit in which you come to us, friendly, warm-hearted and sincere.

After the Planetarium opened on September 22, 1960, it became a tourist attraction and regular destination for school field trips, inspiring many to look to the stars.  The Planetarium closed its doors on December 31, 1983, when the new Edmonton Space and Science Centre (now Telus World of Science) opened.

“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.“ – William Shakespeare

Addendum: The planetarium has been restored and was planned to be re-opened at some point in 2020. However, due to COVID-19, the opening date has been postponed indefinitely.

https://www.edmonton.ca/projects_plans/parks_recreation/queen-elizabeth-planetarium.aspx