A new immersive exhibit opened up in Toronto and this place has been on my list for a while. Fortunately, I got a special invite from the company so I was able to finally check it out for myself this past weekend. In my review, I will share my honest thoughts, some tips you should know before you go, and what to expect if you plan on going. Before you read below, make sure to follow the blog on social media so you don’t miss out on future content about cool exhibits, in Toronto and all over the world. Feel free to follow me on  TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook! For a POV preview see below!
About, Location and Tickets
As mentioned earlier, Arcadia Earth is an immersive and innovative experience new in Toronto, but not around the world as they had successful pop-ups in New York, Las Vegas, and Saudi Arabia. However, something that is cool about their Toronto experience is that this is their permanent location. But what’s so innovative? Well, Arcadia Earth features different activations/exhibitions in their spaces that incorporate multi-sensory technology, augmented reality, interactive elements, projection mapping, and different art installations that truly immerse an individual in navigating throughout the experience. However, what makes this exhibit truly special is that the purpose is to inspire others to take action to implement changes in their daily lives to create a more sustainable future to preserve the planet and limit the negative impact on the environment.
You can purchase tickets directly from their website (arcadiaearth.ca) and choose from the available timeslots. They advise the experience usually takes an hour and I know some people say that they have done it less than that while others, like myself, took longer than an hour to experience everything fully. Tickets for adults are $39 CAD, $29 CAD for seniors and youth, and $24 CAD for children with discounts available for groups.
Arcadia Earth is located inside The Well, Toronto’s newest development which features a combination of residential and commercial spaces in a uniquely designed open layout. Arcadia Earth is on the terrace level of The Well and the exact location is 486 Front Street West, Toronto, Ontario (an eight-minute walk from Rogers Centre and within the downtown Toronto area). There is paid parking (I believe it was $15 for a few hours when I went) and accessible via public transit.
Exhibitions
As I stated earlier, there are several exhibits you get to explore on this journey featuring various innovative technologies so you can immerse yourself in the art and become more educated about the current state of our earth and how you can make a positive impact. Although they mentioned an hour, they were really flexible with the timing and accommodating as I never felt rushed and was able to go at my own pace (around one hour and 15 minutes). Below are some pictures of each exhibit without giving too much. I also shared some things to look out for and what I enjoyed the most. I strongly suggest you download the app ahead of time but if you are not able to, there are some iPads available.
One Drop
This was a great way to start the experience as you get to interact with sea life via augmented reality and there were numerous opportunities to learn fun facts via the touch screens or through the app.
From Within
This tunnel was really cool to walk through but the actual immersive part is not ready yet unfortunately. Nonetheless, I liked how this looked and what I loved more was that there were simple tips you can do to be more sustainable prior to entering the tunnel.
E-Waste Generator
Probably the most visually appealing exhibit was this. I was in awe of the throne, not just because of the Green Lantern/Cyberpunk aesthetic but of how detailed and futuristic they made it to effectively convey the impact of e-waste. The throne itself is a great picture spot but once you get up there you will appreciate how it is made from different keyboards and discs. In my video recap you will also see a futuristic head speaking and before you head over to the next space there is a large room with an immersive screen presentation that once again effectively conveys how e-waste is easily generated.
Fishtainable
This room did have a bit of a smell to it but that is because it really had the fish/ocean aesthetic but in a dark room where you can sit and enjoy the swinging chairs or summon sharks and eels as you learn more about the ocean, fishing, and what you can do to be sustainable.
Bee Thankful
Speaking of smells, this room featured various scents and reminded me of the crucial part bees play in our ecosystems. I knew bees were important but didn’t know how much they do for us until after this exhibit. I loved learning more about the different scents behind each nose tree and the different wildlife that appeared on the app.
Regenerate Canada
This was another immersive room that featured a screen presentation but also allowed you to scan different things to learn more about the negative outcomes on Canadian wildlife e.g., wildfires. It was eye-opening to see how the environment changes drastically and I believe this was an activation sponsored by World Wildlife Fund.
Your Actions Matter
This statue made out of plastic bottles looked cool and helped amplify the interactive component of this exhibit which was to do a quick survey to find out more about your carbon footprint. Although you can see my carbon footprint is lower than average I realized I have a lot of work to do to help protect this earth. It was also cool that while at this exhibit I was wearing my Nike Earth Day Blazer low designed by Steven Harrington which was part of Nike’s initiative to be more sustainable.
VR
Last but not least, the final exhibit to immerse yourself was the VR section. The VR section is fun but just a warning, if you have any fear of specific animals let one of the staff know because you definitely get really close to them virtually through these lenses.
Gift Shop
Although it’s not an exhibit really, this gift shop was a great way to end your time here. Yes, there is a lot of merchandise you can get similar to other immersive exhibits, but this gift shop featured a lot of sustainable products from local vendors. I also saw one section where you can learn a bit more with special staff presentations that are perfect for younger children.
Overall Recommendations and Tips
All in all, I can say that this was my favorite exhibit I have gone to in Toronto. I know that might seem biased because I was invited but this was certainly worth paying for as I enjoyed being immersed with the art and technology, but more importantly, I felt inspired to start making changes to become more sustainable. My only recommendation to Arcadia Earth is to see if they can offer more discount codes (e.g., $10 off) because the prices are a bit high and more people should experience this to start making more sustainable changes, especially for seniors and youth. My recommendations for attendees are to download the app ahead of time, take your time really reading everything being displayed to get the most out of the experience and don’t hesitate to ask the staff questions since they were friendly and knowledgeable of the different exhibits including providing recommendations of what to look for. I wouldn’t mind going here again but I strongly suggest that you have the opportunity to check out Arcadia Earth for yourself! Let me know in the comments below or on social media by following on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook as I will be posting more exhibits and Toronto content soon!
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