'See Canada like never before' as Sesqui 360 dome visits Richmond Hill

Yorkregion.com
Aug. 1, 2017
By Tersa Latchford

Richmond Hill is one of only seven locations in Canada to be selected for a unique Canadian experience.

The large Sesqui orange dome will be making its way to town this week to feature Horizon 360 degrees, a cinematic journey celebrating Canada's 150th by showcasing the people, landscapes and freedoms that make Canada home.

Powered by cutting-edge technology, the 9K resolution, 22-minute Horizon 360 degrees film will be screened every half-hour in the custom-built Sesqui dome from noon to 10 p.m. Aug. 3 to 6 and 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 7 at the Richmond Green Sports Centre and Park located at 1300 Elgin Mills Rd. E.

The film was created using 360-degree technology and is described as "a sensory and emotional experience for audiences of all ages." It was designed to be viewed in domes, planetariums and virtual reality environments.

"Richmond Hill is honoured to be selected as only one of seven locations in Ontario for the unique Sesqui dome tour," Mayor Dave Barrow said. "We invite everyone from the GTA and beyond to come and watch this special 360-degree film and see Canada in a way you've never seen it before."

Residents and visitors are also welcome to stay in town to visit any of Richmond Hill's events, parks and trails following their dome experience, he added.

The experience isn't just limited to the full dome screening of the film. Other features of the event include virtual reality storytelling, interactive games and a number of learning resources.

The virtual reality mobile app, Meridian VR, includes six virtual reality stories that allow users to explore how different ideas of home come together to create a collective understanding of Canada. The learning hub features a wealth of tech-driven resources for educators and the public to explore the country through the arts. Participants can also create their own "Sesquatch" to reflect Canada's diversity.

Admission is free but attendees should be prepared for a line as other locations have already experienced two-hour wait times or more. Guests will be served on a first-come, first-serve basis.