What HR MacMillan Space Centre does

The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre is a registered Canadian charitable non-profit (H.R. MacMillan Space Centre Society) operating British Columbia's only public planetarium from its Vanier Park facility in Vancouver since 1968. The organization runs an integrated visitor experience anchored by a 230-seat Star Theatre planetarium with a full-dome projection system (eight Christie 4K projectors delivering 10K resolution, 150,000 lumens, and Dolby Atmos surround sound), the Gordon MacMillan Southam Observatory with a 0.5-meter Cassegrain telescope, the GroundStation Canada Theatre for live science demonstrations, and the Cosmic Courtyard interactive exhibit gallery. In April 2026 it launched an Augmented Reality Solar System Tour in partnership with Vancouver-based Immersi Learn, adding wireless AR headsets with four themed modules to the core admission experience.

The business model is a hybrid direct-to-consumer non-profit operating across nine distinct revenue streams: daytime admissions (adults $27.50, children $19.60, family pass $85.35, with free entry for children under 5 and self-identifying Indigenous Peoples), annual memberships ($74.75 standard, $149.50 enhanced), curriculum-aligned K-12 school programs ($11.65-$25.40 per student), venue rentals (Star Theatre at $1,000/hour with 5-hour minimum), birthday party packages, overnight sleepovers, symbolic star dedications, offsite outreach (Portable Planetarium, Virtual Sessions, Astronomy on the Go, Mobile AR), and a structured seven-tier philanthropy program reaching $100,000+ gifts. Customers span K-12 schools across British Columbia, families and tourists, corporate and private event clients, and community organizations including Girl Guides and Cub Scouts.

Distribution is anchored at the single physical site with online ticketing through the venue's own platform and through Tiqets (Vanier Park Pass), cross-membership discounts with Science World, Royal BC Museum, Museum of Vancouver, and Vancouver Maritime Museum, and outreach delivery across BC. Strategic partnerships with UBC Department of Physics and Astronomy, TRIUMF, the Canadian Space Agency, and Enbridge (Portable Planetarium Signature Sponsor) support programming and fundraising. The organization employs 51-100 staff, is governed by a Board of Directors chaired by Derek Lew, and is led by Executive Director Lorraine Lowe (appointed 2024).

Name

HR MacMillan Space Centre

Legal name

H.R. MacMillan Space Centre Society

Website

https://spacecentre.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre is a Vancouver-based charitable non-profit operating British Columbia's only public planetarium since 1968, delivering immersive space-science education through a 230-seat dome theatre, observatory, interactive exhibits, AR experiences, and outreach programs to schools, families, and event clients across British Columbia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Admission and Ticket Sales: Daytime admission includes Planetarium Star Theatre show, live science demo, and gallery access. Adult tickets $27.50+tax, children (5-11) $19.60+tax, youth (12-18) $25.50+tax, family (up to 5) $85.35+tax.
2. Memberships: Standard membership $74.75+tax provides free admission for 1 year for member plus 1 guest. Enhanced membership $149.50+tax includes member plus 3 guests. Memberships provide 20% discount at partner museums.
3. School Field Trips: School programs range from $11.65 to $25.40 per student depending on program length. Minimum group size 15 students. Programs include workshops, live demonstrations, planetarium shows, and Cosmic Courtyard access aligned with BC science curriculum.
4. Venue Rentals: Nine distinct rental spaces available including Star Theatre ($1,000/hour, 5-hour minimum, 230 capacity), Star Deck ($295/hour), Main Lobby ($375/hour), Ground Station Theatre ($395/hour), Auditorium ($350/hour), Ray Whittick Lounge ($225/hour), Garden Patio ($500/hour), and Gordon Southam Observatory ($250/hour add-on).
5. Birthday Parties: Space-themed party packages at $42.75+tax per child and $21.75+tax per adult, plus $90 maintenance fee. Includes planetarium show, live demonstrations, mission patch activity, and rocket-building workshop.
6. Overnight Adventures: Sleepover programs at $69.50+tax per child/youth and $34.75+tax per additional adult, with $90 maintenance fee. Includes live science demo, rocket building, observatory tour, night sky orientation, snacks and breakfast.
7. Star Dedications: Symbolic star dedication packages with personalized certificate, constellation map, and mythology information. Brightest 1st magnitude stars $300, 2nd magnitude $150, 3rd magnitude $75. Includes tax receipt.
8. Offsite Experiences: Portable planetarium $620/day plus $120 transportation. Virtual sessions $364/group (max 25 people). Astronomy on the Go $350/hour plus $70 transportation. Mobile AR Solar System Tour $25/student.
9. Donations and Philanthropy: Tax-deductible charitable contributions through CanadaHelps. Giving circles: Ignition Circle $100-$499, Launch Circle $500-$999, Mission Circle $1,000-$4,999, Orbital Circle $5,000-$9,999, Discovery Circle $10,000-$24,999, Explorer Circle $25,000-$99,999, Mission Command $100,000+.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre operates a public planetarium and space science attraction in Vancouver, British Columbia, offering full-dome planetarium shows, hands-on interactive exhibits, live science demonstrations, observatory stargazing, school field trips, offsite outreach programs, venue rentals, memberships, and educational birthday and overnight programs. It serves families, school groups, tourists, corporate event clients, and community organizations across British Columbia.

Product overview

The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre is British Columbia's premier space science attraction (operating since 1968) offering a unified visitor experience centered on its Star Theatre Planetarium, Cosmic Courtyard interactive exhibit gallery, GroundStation Canada Theatre for live science demonstrations, and Gordon Macmillan Southam Observatory. The organization operates on a platform-plus-modules architecture: the core visitor experience (planetarium shows, exhibits, observatory) serves as the foundation, with premium add-ons including the new Augmented Reality Solar System Tour (launched April 2026, powered by Immersi Learn), Dome Evening Experience for immersive multimedia events, and venue rental services across nine distinct spaces. Offsite education services extend the brand through a Portable Planetarium, BEAM US IN virtual sessions, Astronomy on the Go, and Mobile AR experiences for schools. Additional revenue streams include membership programs, the Vanier Park Pass (joint ticketing with Museum of Vancouver and Vancouver Maritime Museum), birthday party packages, overnight adventures, and the Dedicate a Star symbolic donation program. School field trips and Space Camp Saturday (partnered with UBC) serve the educational mandate.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Star Theatre Planetarium Immersive full-dome planetarium experience featuring rotating shows like Total Eclipse: Chasers of the Lost Sleep, Wilfred Buck's Star Stories, Messengers of Time and Space, and Surfing the Solar System, presented in a 230-seat dedicated theatre for families, tourists, and school groups.
• Cosmic Courtyard Interactive exhibit gallery featuring hands-on space science displays including the Alien Encounter starship captain simulation, Michael Collins Suit exhibit, Mars Explorer activity, and Star-Stuff VR experience for visitors of all ages.
• Gordon MacMillan Southam Observatory

Quantifiable outcome

• Membership pays for itself in less than three visits
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• EnbridgecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerEnbridge serves as Signature Sponsor for the Portable Planetarium program, enabling the Space Centre to bring immersive space education directly to schools and community groups across British Columbia.
• Immersi LearncoreTechnology or IntegrationVancouver-based company specializing in immersive educational experiences. Created the augmented reality Solar System tour experience using lightweight AR headsets that overlay 3D planetary models into physical space. Partnership delivers four themed modules: Rocky Worlds, Tides, Gas and Ice Giants, and Seasons.
• Museum of VancouvercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Vanier Park Pass product offering combined admission to Space Centre, Museum of Vancouver, and Vancouver Maritime Museum at 20%+ savings. Three attractions co-located in Vanier Park collaborating on community events.
• Vancouver Maritime MuseumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Vanier Park Pass product offering combined admission to Space Centre, Museum of Vancouver, and Vancouver Maritime Museum at 20%+ savings. Three attractions co-located in Vanier Park collaborating on community events.
• TRIUMFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanada's national particle accelerator center. Program partner for Cosmic Nights adult events, contributing science demonstrations and educational content about particle physics and astrophysics.
• UBC Department of Physics and AstronomycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for Space Camp Saturday programming, bringing faculty, graduate researchers, and lab scientists to deliver lectures, live demonstrations, and Q&A sessions on topics including black holes, dark matter, particle physics, and stellar evolution.
• Canadian Space AgencymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner supporting space science education. Ken Podwalski listed as program partner. CSA collaboration on programs including Wilfred Buck's Star Stories and Artemis II mission coverage.
• Vanier Park Cultural InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Museum of Vancouver and Vancouver Maritime Museum on shared community events including Kits Point Patio Party, Pay What You Can Sundays, and joint membership discounts.
• Science WorldminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember discount program offering 20% off Space Centre admission to Science World members and vice versa.
• Royal BC MuseumminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMember discount program offering 20% off Space Centre admission to Royal BC Museum members and vice versa.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SpaceCentreYVR
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@SpaceCentreYVR
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpaceCentreYVR
• Instagraminstagram.com/spacecentreyvr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles16 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HR MacMillan Space Centre