Words Jamila Douhaibi
Photos Sarah Hartley Photography
When Ruhee Janmohamed started her degree in physics and astronomy, she was often told “this isn’t for you.”
Professors in these male-dominated fields weren’t supportive of students – female students to be specific. But Ruhee said this helped her in “finding the inner strength, and using their words as fuel.” Now working at the Centre of the Universe on West Saanich Road, she mostly works with a female-led team and volunteers.
Ruhee started as a volunteer at the centre before she graduated UVic, and then a position opened up in January 2025 and she took on the role of Education Leadership Coordinator. Her job includes all of the Centre’s school programs, as well as grant writing, admin and content creation. She says that all of their tours and events fund their education program because education is the “back bone.”
The site first opened to the public in 1916 and is one of the “main hubs for astronomy in Western Canada.” The centre that Ruhee works out of was built in 2000 and run by the government until 2013.
In 2015, the Friends of the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory non-profit organization was formed and now runs the important work at the site. The Plaskett telescope is the “second biggest in Canada” and one of the biggest research telescopes in North America. It is open and viewing the skies every night that it’s clear out. But the telescope’s reach is beyond the in-person work that researchers and scientists do. It can also be used remotely around the world and is accessed online by astronomers in Australia, Turkey, across Canada and throughout the U.S. It also stores Hubble telescope data and can still be visited by the public. And this amazing site is part of the Saanich Peninsula.
Star parties have been running since 1916 and only stopped during the war. During the pandemic, they still held these events online. Ruhee provides presentations on research, dome tours, and senior and community tours. She also goes into schools and is currently working on a women-in-astronomy piece. Working with students from kindergarten to Grade 12 has been a learning curve for her, as she mainly presented to high school and above before this position, but Ruhee says “whether new to science or experts in astrophysics, I love being able to speak to everyone and answer questions – I learn from others as much as I educate them.” She’s passionate about talking to people about black holes, galaxies and what would happen if the sun exploded. She says that astronomy is a niche topic and the Centre is a place where people can ask all of their questions – and Ruhee says that it’s an “honour to be able to answer them.” She also hopes that people leave with more questions than they arrive with.
As a woman of colour in the field of science, Ruhee says that there are “not many of us in astronomy in Canada in general,” which is why she’s so keen on the work that she does, as STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education is so important for girls. Ruhee has connected with schools like St. Margaret’s, as well as other schools around Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, to increase excitement in these fields. As a first-generation Canadian whose parents immigrated to the province, Ruhee (and her sisters who are in law, pediatric nursing and social work) have the goal of “striving to make it easier for women in these fields” – making it easier for the next generation.
The Centre is fully accessible to everyone who wants to visit and learn more about our solar system. They also upload all of their star party talks. Guests can book a tour or star party online, or just show up on Fridays and Saturdays from 12 p.m. until the last tour at 4:30 p.m. Ruhee says the centre is worth a trip because people can “experience stars and planets even if the weather is not cooperating,” because their indoor planetarium “brings the night sky inside.” And they always need volunteers – no experience necessary.
So come and learn, ask questions and see the world in a new way. As Ruhee says: “the stars belong to everyone.”
www.centreoftheuniverse.org
Note: Since writing this piece, Ruhee has moved to Calgary and is working at the Rothney Astrophysical Observatory.
