The nature surrounding Thunder Bay has a unique beauty found only in Northwestern Ontario. Visitors to the city regularly comment on its stunning forests, impressive mountains, or gorgeous lake, but there is one person who has an even deeper appreciation for our peaceful background. Jason Feller has been an active member of the environmental community for many years, not only engaging in public activities but also working on his own project celebrating the beauty of the region - the Boreal Museum.
“The Boreal Museum is my love letter to science,” says Feller. “It’s getting the young (and young at heart) engaged with science topics and making learning accessible to as many people as I can.”
Located in the Waterfront District, the museum is a place where people of all ages can learn about natural history in a physical, hands-on way. As a biology-major graduate from Lakehead University, Feller got the idea of starting the Boreal Museum several years ago. Throughout school and after graduating in 2018, Feller worked for the Thunder Bay Historical Museum, operating in many departments such as collections, education, outreach, as well as leading the revamping of the Albertosaurus Exhibit. For him, that was gasoline to the flame.
“Curatorial work sparked something in me that changed my whole direction,” he says, when asked what prompted the idea of his own museum. But it wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020, that Feller had an epiphany: what if he could start his own museum where he could create a space to make science fun and hands-on? With encouragement from his partner, Mariano, he began to make his dream a reality.
Starting small, Feller began by creating deliverable science kits across Thunder Bay and then, in the summer of 2021, he started the Foragers Walk - educational guided tours where he helps people identify wild foods by leading them through local forest paths. This proved wildly successful, and Feller saw an eagerness from the community to learn about the environment around them in a physical way, not just through books or the internet. It was then he started the search for a “permanent learning space” inside Keskus Court at 215 Red River Road.
Established in November 2019, the museum currently has programming, exhibits, and many different experiences for people to enjoy.
This past March, the Museum ran a “Spring Experiment Kit” travelling event that focused on the science of gardening and with stops at Pays Plat, Pic River, and Pic Mobert, they reached over 100 families with these fun programs. They discussed topics such as companion plants and started seeds, as well as making their own sun dials and robotic insects.
“It was so exciting to have that group be able to bring me in with all the wonderful kits and science fun,” he says. “And seeing how many kids and families were really excited to learn about companion planting and really take that excitement with them was so incredible.”
Feller is excited for future stages of the museum, teasing the possibility of a rotating mini-exhibit area and an expansion of the dinosaur exhibitions.
Feller admits that the physical exhibits were a challenge, having to get creative and doing things off book. As it turns out, “not too many places teach you how to make a cave entrance that’s realistic, durable, safe, and affordable.”
Feller hopes the Boreal Museum will become a cultural point for tourism in downtown Port Arthur.
“I want to help bridge science accessibility in the city and beyond, while building community here in Thunder Bay. We are very small right now, but our aim is to be able to grow much larger, to tackle bigger subjects and reach people in new and exciting ways.”
So, what can you expect from the Boreal Museum this summer? Not only is Jason Feller resuming his annual Foragers Walks (now their 4th year), but he is currently developing ‘Summer Explorers Kits’ that will indulge the minds of any nature lover, no matter the age.
Lastly, he added that the exhibits at the museum are getting close to completion, so have your eyes peeled for their grand reopening at 215 Red River Road. For more information go to www.borealmuseum.comz