Ocean Wise media release
THUNDER BAY – As part of the celebrations for Canada’s 150th anniversary, the Vancouver Aquarium’s AquaVan 150: Connecting Communities to Coastlines program will be visiting northwestern Ontario from July 30 to August 2.
AquaVan 150 is the first-ever cross-Canada road trip for the mobile education program in its 22-year history.
Over seven months, this signature project will celebrate Canada’s milestone year at 150 stops.
It will deliver fully interactive and immersive programming to Canadians of all ages, focusing on the impacts humans are having on our rivers, lakes and oceans and the role Canadians can play to ensure they are healthy and abundant for future generations.
To inspire healthier oceans, the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, a conservation initiative by the Vancouver Aquarium and WWF-Canada, will also be partnering with Clean North and EcoSuperior to host shoreline cleanups at these events.
The public is invited to participate and help rehabilitate local shorelines by clearing them of litter and debris through a hands-on cleanup.
The AquaVan will visit the following locations on this tour:
· July 30: Sault Ste. Marie – North St. Mary’s Island (10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.)
Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup with Clean North
· August 2: Thunder Bay – Boulevard Lake Park (1:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup with EcoSuperior
The AquaVan features a 28-foot trailer, with resident creatures including sea stars, sea cucumbers, crabs and sea anemones, among other invertebrates from the Pacific Coast.
These animals serve as ambassadors for aquatic life and help to bring the ocean to Canadians, regardless of where they live. In addition to getting hands-on at these touch tanks, programming will also cover topics such as local history and regional environmental issues.
Vancouver Aquarium and its AquaVan team are proud to be part of the Canada 150 celebrations and thank the Department of Canadian Heritage and the Government of Canada for helping to fund the AquaVan 150: Connecting Communities to Coastlines tour.
Regular updates on the tour will be posted on Vancouver Aquarium’s AquaBlog and Vancouver Aquarium’s Facebook page. You may support this signature journey through a donation here.
