A CAD$4m (£2.6m, US$4.04m) heritage and conservation centre near Ball’s Falls on the Niagara Escarpment in Canada is now open to the public. The Ball’s Falls Centre for Conservation focuses on watershed management, conservation education and the heritage of the Twenty Valley area in Niagara.

The project was managed by The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority and funded by the Region of Niagara, the Federal Government’s Department of Canadian Heritage, Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation and a group of private donors.

The 12,000sq ft (1.115sq m) centre demonstrates “conservation in action” said a spokesperson for The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. “It will leave visitors with a greater understanding of land and water conservation, human impact on the natural ecosystem and the connection between natural and cultural history.”

The centre, which was built over two-years to ensure optimum eco-friendly construction, meets the standards of the Canada Green Building Council for environmentally sustainable building.

To enhance this certification, visitors can learn about the centre’s environmental features including geothermal heating, water-recycling and non-toxic construction materials as part of a permanent exhibition.

Other permanent and temporary displays enable visitors to learn about the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve, the history of the Twenty Valley, its watershed and Ball’s Falls.

The centre has been built as a result of a need identified in The Twenty Valley/Jordan Harbour Tourism Masterplan, which was developed with community partners including the Region of Niagara and The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority.