Science for Everyone at the Armand-Frappier Health Museum

A Brief History
by Tourisme Laval

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Despite her training in microbiology and immunology, Guylaine Archambault chose not to pursue a career in the laboratory. In 1997, her passion for communications led her instead to offer her services to the Armand-Frappier Health Museum as an educator. Since 2005, Guylaine has been directing the museum, the only institution in Quebec dedicated exclusively to health sciences.

The best ointments come in small jars

As soon as you arrive, a science guide will welcome you and accompany you throughout your exploration. Their mission is to provide you with a personalized experience tailored to your interests and to share their passion for the life sciences with you.

At the end of your tour of the exhibition, the guide will invite you to continue your learning by becoming a scientist yourself. You’ll then put on a lab coat to participate in hands-on lab workshops. “We are fortunate to offer visitors of all ages unique activities during which they can use a microscope or perform microbiological analyses—and who knows, perhaps develop a real passion for science,” says Guylaine Archambault, Executive Director of the Armand-Frappier Health Museum.

Photo credit: Image au Carré

A new location for the Armand-Frappier Museum

The Armand-Frappier Health Museum, which has recently relocated to Centropolis and is now adjacent to Cosmodome, has tripled its floor space and modernized its building. The new facilities include two interactive science exhibition halls. One hall is dedicated to a permanent exhibition that will help the public become aware of human health issues, better understand them, and take concrete action. The other houses a temporary exhibition, whose content will be updated annually. The museum also features four educational laboratories that will allow visitors to continue their discoveries through hands-on activities. “We are very proud of this project, which is, in a way, the culmination of our sustained growth over the past few years. The richness and rigor of our programming, the numerous partnerships established with major institutions, and the professionalization of our team confirm our position as a leader in science museums. This new location will allow us to continue our mission, particularly with young people, and to better serve our visitors,” concludes the Executive Director of the Armand-Frappier Museum.

Did you know?

• We owe the development of vaccines against many infectious diseases, including tuberculosis, to Armand Frappier, a pioneer in preventive medicine.
• In 1997, Guylaine Archambault became the first full-time employee at the Armand-Frappier Museum.
• The museum currently has 12 full-time employees and 12 on-call and seasonal science educators.
• 27,333 visitors and participants: attendance at the Armand-Frappier Museum in 2018.
• For budding scientists ages 6 to 13, the museum offers eight science day camp programs and “Kids in the Lab!” workshops for fun—and educational—Saturdays.

Cover photo credit: Lawrence Dupuis