In this section, you’ll find answers to the most frequently asked questions to help you plan your visit. Still have questions? Contact us and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
Plan your visit
- Can I change, cancel, or get a refund for my tickets?
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Please note that ticket purchases are non-refundable. However, it is possible to modify your ticket up to the day before the date of your visit, by calling us at 450 532-5300 ext. 94.
- HOW LONG DOES A VISIT TO THE MUSEUM TAKE?
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It takes 1 to 2 hours to visit the Museum, depending on how much time you want to spend delving into the secrets of Bombardier ingenuity. Plan to spend around 30 minutes at the temporary exhibition.
- WHERE IS THE MUSEUM OF INGENUITY J. ARMAND BOMBARDIER LOCATED?
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The Museum is located in Valcourt, in the Eastern Townships, at the centre of the triangle formed by three cities: Sherbrooke, Granby and Drummondville. Valcourt is home to the head office of Bombardier Recreational Products, a multinational corporation that is a source of pride for all Canadians.
- WILL MY CHILDREN ENJOY THE MUSEUM?
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The Museum of Ingenuity J. Armand Bombardier is popular with young and old alike, making it a wonderful family destination.
- ARE THERE ACCOMMODATIONS NEAR THE MUSEUM?
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You’ll find inns, motels and hotels in the Valcourt region. Visit the Valcourt website for more information.
- WHY IS THE MUSEUM WORTH THE VISIT?
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The Museum of Ingenuity J. Armand Bombardier is unique in Quebec. The Museum’s interactive exhibitions, both temporary and permanent, are at the heart of it all, with the object theatre the immersive multimedia show and the Fab Lab (a digital fabrication workshop). And let’s not forget the BRP plant tour in Valcourt!
- IS THE MUSEUM STROLLER ACCESSIBLE?
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The Museum is fully accessible to strollers. We also have high chairs, and you’ll find a changing table in the all-gender washroom. The entire family is welcome!
- ARE THE EXHIBITIONS BILINGUAL?
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All of our exhibitions are currently in French and English.
- CAN I TAKE PHOTOS IN THE MUSEUM?
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Yes, you can bring your camera. Please note that it is not possible to take photos during the tour of the BRP plant.
- ARE DOGS ALLOWED IN THE MUSEUM?
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Unfortunately, animals are not allowed in the Museum, since some visitors may have allergies or be afraid of animals. However, exceptions are made for guide dogs, as long as they are clearly identified and working. Thank you for your understanding.
- IS THERE A RESTAURANT AT THE MUSEUM?
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The Museum does not have a restaurant. However, you’ll find a variety of restaurants in Valcourt. You can also bring your own meal and eat it in our lunch area, in the Museum park or under our pergola. Admission tickets to the Museum are valid for the entire day, so you can leave the site for lunch and come back after.
- IS THE BRP PLANT TOUR WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE?
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The BRP plant tour is not accessible to wheelchairs due to access procedures and the fact that the plant is in operation during tours. However, the Museum is certified by Keroul as “accessible” for people with restricted mobility and “adapted” for people with a visual impairment.
- What actions is the Museum taking to promote sustainable development?
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The Museum is committed to an eco-responsible action plan to promote sustainable development and reduce its ecological footprint. Here are some of the measures in place:
- Electric vehicle charging stations: Charging stations for visitors’ electric cars are installed.
- Waste sorting stations: Sorting stations are available to encourage recycling and waste reduction.
- Food surplus sharing: Food surpluses are redistributed to avoid waste.
- Water fountains: Water fountains are available for refilling reusable bottles.
- Reusable materials: Reusable materials are used in school activities to reduce waste.
- Free admission days: Free admission days are organized to make heritage accessible to everyone.
- Repair Café: Repair Café events are held to encourage the repair and reuse of items.
- Access to Quebec’s cultural heritage: Quebec’s cultural heritage is showcased for everyone through the Museum’s exhibitions.
These initiatives reflect the Museum’s commitment to a more sustainable and environmentally respectful future.
Collections
- HOW CAN I OBTAIN REPRODUCTION RIGHTS FOR AN ARCHIVED DOCUMENT?
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Consult the rights and permissions section of our website for information on how to obtain reproduction rights for an archived document
- WHERE CAN I FIND INFORMATION ON THE LIFE AND WORK OF JOSEPH-ARMAND BOMBARDIER?
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A complete file on the inventor, including his biography, genealogy and patents, is available in our Explore section.
- WHERE CAN I FIND INFORMATION ON HOW TO RESTORE AN ANTIQUE VEHICLE?
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Consult our list of technical documents available.
- HOW CAN I DONATE A VEHICLE OR OBJECT TO THE MUSEUM?
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Please complete our donation form.
Fab Lab
- WHO CAN USE THE FAB LAB?
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The Fab Lab is open to anyone 10 years and up, upon presentation of an admission ticket to the Museum or an Ingenuity membership card. Young people aged 10 to 12 must be accompanied by an adult to guide them through their project.
- WHEN IS THE FAB LAB OPEN?
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The Fab Lab is accessible by reservation only from Tuesday to Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Access is conditional on participants being able to use the tools independently. Reservations can be made directly with the Fab Lab team at 450-532-5300, ext. 19, or by email at fablab@fjab.qc.ca.
The Fab Lab is also accessible with no reservations required on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- CAN I SHOW UP WITH A PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL PROJECT, OR WITHOUT A PROJECT?
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We accept all types of artistic, scientific, personal and commercial projects. You can also come without a project; however, we do not offer any turnkey projects.
- CAN I USE THE MACHINES FOR FREE?
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Some tools can be used free of charge, including the microcontrollers (e.g., Arduino), the sewing machines and the soldering irons.
Other machines can be used for a fee (by the minute or the hour).
- DO YOU PROVIDE THE MATERIALS?
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We provide the plastics for our printers. You can also get a multitude of materials on site for a fee. However, we encourage users to bring their own materials.
- WHAT FILE FORMAT DO THE MACHINES USE?
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For 3D printing, you can use any type of 3D modelling (Fusion 360, Solidworks, Blender, Freecad, etc.), as long as you can export as a .stl or .obj file.
For the laser cutter, you must use vector graphic file formats (.svg, .pdf) for cutting/engraving, or uncompressed image files for engraving (.png .jpg).
For the milling machine, the main file formats used are:
- 2D (vectors): DWG, DXF, EPS, AI, PDF
- 3D (3D modelling): STL, OBJ
For vinyl cutting (vectors or images): JPG, SVG, AI and EPS
- WHAT SOFTWARE IS USED AT THE FAB LAB?
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- 2D drawing (Vector): Inkscape
- 2D drawing (Bitmap): Krita
- 3D sketching: (Fusion 360) and Tinkercad
- Microcontroller programming: Arduino
- DO YOU PROVIDE USERS WITH TECHNICAL SUPPORT?
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When the Fab Lab is open to the community, a member of our team is on site to help you with your project. Don’t forget that our goal is to help you become independent and able to complete every step of your project. That way, you’ll create your project on your own, from start to finish!
- WHO DO THE INVENTIONS CREATED IN THE FAB LAB BELONG TO?
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The designs and processes developed in the Fab Lab can be protected and sold by the inventor if so desired, but must always remain available for others to use.
- HOW CAN COMPANIES MAKE USE OF THE FAB LAB?
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Companies can use the Fab Lab for commercial activities such as prototyping and incubation, provided that they are not in conflict with other users. The activities must expand beyond the Fab Lab, rather than within, with the expectation that they benefit their inventors, Fab Labs and the networks that helped bring about their success.
Hit two birds with one stone
Museum-BRP plant combo package
AGES 14+
- TUESDAY TO THURSDAY, BY RESERVATION ONLY
More information
- TUESDAY TO THURSDAY, BY RESERVATION ONLY