Press Releases
December 1, 2024
Competition for a Cause: supporting animal care and environmental education at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea
Sidney, BC — Who will emerge as Salish Sea Idol 2024? The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea presents the Salish Sea Idol fundraising* campaign, a community celebration of marine magnificence, running December 1 to 20.
Introducing the four stars vying for the title — bald eagle, humpback whale, salmon, sea star. Supporters decide the winner through voting with dollars. What contestant do they find most fascinating? Most endearing? Or best represents the Salish Sea, its beauty and diversity.
“We are excited to see what animal wins our 2nd annual Salish Sea Idol competition. Our four diverse finalists were chosen from our current feature exhibition, Drawing Connections: 40 Years of Art and Hope for the Salish Sea (on now until January 25). All of them have a moving conservation story,” says Pauline Finn, Executive Director.
Anyone can support their favourite animal contender:
-Donate in person or online at Salish Sea Idol 2024
-Share campaign with family & friends
-Challenge family & friends to support your favourite or support their own
-Follow and engage with contest content on social media (@salishseacentre)
Will this year’s voters be as fanatic as those of last year’s winner — the giant Pacific octopus? Board President, Allan Lane, hopes so, “last year, the wit, creativity and (lighthearted) sparring of friends and family put the fun in fundraiser. We’re excited for round two.”
*The campaign goal is $15,000. Thanks to a generous gift from Lynda and Murray Farmer donations will be matched up to $10,000 and our campaign total could swell to $25,000.
Contact: Tina Kelly, Director of Learning and Communications
250-665-7511 ext. 105, oceaneer1@salishseacentre.org
July 19, 2021
Aquarium Releases 176 Chinook Salmon
Sidney, BC — Sidney’s glass beach may be best known for its glass. But for the team at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, it is also now known as the release location for 176 adult Chinook salmon.
Releasing that many fish is no small feat. But as the old adage goes, many hands make light work, and the entire team at the Centre, including a handful of volunteers, played their part; some roles wetter than others. The well organized and heavily choreographed process stretched from the Head of Animal Care inside the Pacific Salmon Exhibit, through a caravan of team members transporting salmon out to the beach and a diver in the water corralling the fish in a sea pen. Once the entire school was gathered together the sea pen was opened and the school of salmon headed out to sea to the sound of the team’s cheers.
Head of Animal Care, Kit Thornton, adds this about the Centre’s salmon release program, “by the time the fish are ready for release, they are robust and ready to spend another two plus years at sea before heading to Goldstream River to spawn. Releasing these fish allows them to complete their life cycle and continue on the next generation of Chinook salmon. This is incredibly important at a time when many salmon populations are declining.”
Salmon smolts from Sooke’s Jack Brooks Hatchery arrived at the Centre in mid-May. These small, finger-sized fish will be on display for the next 2 years.
Tina Kelly, Director of Learning and Communications, emphasizes the role of these animal ambassadors, “Pacific salmon are integral to the Salish Sea ecosystem. We not only teach salmon science but help visitors appreciate salmon’s integral role in the food web, and how they connect land, rivers and sea.”
Contact: Tina Kelly, Director of Learning & Communications: 250-665-7511 ext. 105 (Saturday – Tuesday) oceaneer1@salishseacentre.org (Wednesday – Friday)
May 18, 2021
Rare Dungeness Crab Arrives at Aquarium
Sidney, BC — “One of these things was not like the others” when fishers brought up their catch off Sooke, BC. Among the haul of Dungeness crab, one individual stood out. Questions of albinism were emerged. The typical colour pattern of this species is grey-brown with tinges of purple, and white-tipped claws; the unusual looking crab was cream coloured with completely white legs and claws. On closer inspection, the crab appears to be leucistic. Leucism is the partial lack of pigment, whereas albinism is complete lack of pigment.
Fishers donated this full-size rare crab to our Centre. It is currently on display in the Pacific Salmon exhibit.
Contact: Tina Kelly, Director of Learning & Communications: 250-665-7511 ext. 105 oceaneer1@salishseacentre.org
December 8, 2020
Sea you later, Henry the Giant Pacific Octopus!
Sidney, BC — Time jet-propulses by. To much fanfare, back in June, a giant Pacific octopus was welcomed to the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea. Why the excitement and media attention? It had to be the name — Henry, in recognition of BC’s Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.
Now it’s time for Henry to return to the sea. The Centre’s octopus ambassador program (“exhibit and release”) takes many factors into account — octopuses are highly intelligent, grow incredibly large (and fast), have a short lifespan of 3-5 years, and reproduce at the end of their life cycle. Gather all of these elements together and it’s clear why the Centre limits each octopus to approximately six months in residence.
Veterinarian health checks, Department of Fisheries and Oceans permits and paperwork, and organizing reputable and certified divers are part of the release protocol. Visitors and social media followers are invited to have an interactive role in this process in the form of a Guess the Weight contest.
Upon arrival and again before being released, the octopus is weighed. In June, Henry weighed in at 5 lbs (2.3 kg). It’s anyone’s guess what the scale will register on December 15th, his scheduled departure date, but we’re pretty sure he’s put on a few pounds. Henry will be released near where he was collected on the Island’s west coast.
Reflecting on Henry’s time at the Centre, the animal care team note his name was fitting — this particular octopus, more than any former octopus resident, has been particularly calm, just like Dr. Henry.
Contact: Tina Kelly, Director of Learning & Communications: 250-665-7511 ext. 105 oceaneer1@salishseacentre.org
June 24, 2020
Welcome Dr. (Bonnie) Henry the Giant Pacific Octopus!
Sidney, BC — What’s in a name? Attaching a moniker to a giant Pacific octopus is usually not so straightforward. Themes, ballots, community votes, and tallies roll on for weeks before a winner is announced. But this time around, the naming task was simple — recognition of BC’s Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.
Before a new octopus arm (arm, arm, arm, arm, arm, arm, arm) stepped “foot” in the Centre, the team knew recognizing the incredible grace, kindness, intelligence, compassion, dedication, and calm demeanor Dr. Bonnie Henry has shown the province during COVID-19 was a given. And if the giant in giant Pacific octopus wasn’t a clear enough measure of admiration, octopuses have THREE hearts, a symbol that has come to reflect gratitude for Dr. Henry, healthcare and frontline workers.
“While we were not sure what the sex of our new octopus would be, we were certain of the name — Bonnie for a female and Henry if it was a male,” noted Lead Aquarist Amanda LeSergent. Henry (5 lb/2.2 kg) was welcomed by excited staff and volunteers on Thursday, June 18 and is settling in well to his new temporary home. The Centre has a program to release their octopus ambassador after roughly six months of engaging visitors in an up close and personal underwater experience. Pebbles, the Centre’s last octopus was released back to the wild shortly after the Centre closed mid-March.
Welcoming the community back in a kind, calm and safe way has already begun. The Centre re-opened June 8 to members and after two weeks of weekends only, the team is excited to expand to be open five days a week, Friday - Tuesday (10:00AM-4:30PM). In honour of Canada Day, the Centre will also be open Wednesday, July 1.
For further information contact, Tina Kelly, Director of Learning & Communications: 250-665-7511 ext. 105, oceaneer1@salishseacentre.org
March 16, 2020
COVID-19 - Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea Temporary Closure
Sidney, BC - Our Centre is taking the developing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) situation very seriously. The safety of our members, visitors, team and the broader community is our utmost priority.
“After much consideration and at the recommendation of local authorities, we have made the difficult decision to close our Centre to the public beginning March 16th. This decision has been made in an abundance of caution to minimize the future, potential spread of COVID-19. This temporary closure will support the need for social distancing, as recommended by our health officials to slow the spread of the virus,” says Pauline Finn, Executive Director. “We apologize for the disruption and inconvenience. We are hopeful that these preventative measures will help to flatten the curve on the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”
We will continue to coordinate with our local community authorities in Sidney, actively monitor the situation and follow the guidance and recommendations of the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), our Provincial Health Officer and the Vancouver Island Health Authority.
Rest assured our 3,000+ critters will be well looked after by our animal care team throughout this public closure period. Our learning team will continue sharing our mission through FaceBook, Twitter and Instagram channels @SalishSeaCentre.
Please take good care of yourself and your family. Wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, avoid touching your face and stay home if you are experiencing symptoms / are sick.
Enjoy the sunshine when you are able, walk on the beach, stroll through the forest and stay healthy. Let’s all look out for one another to keep our community safe.
Visit salishseacentre.org for the most updated information and the future re-opening of our Centre. If you have questions, please reach out at info@salishseacentre.org.
For further information, contact Pauline Finn, Executive Director, Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, 250.665.7511 ext 108.
MARCH 10, 2020
Spring Break at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea!
Sidney, BC - Looking for something exciting to do with the family this Spring Break! Look no further than your local community aquarium! From March 14-30th The Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea will have a daily menu of hands-on activities including creature features, crafts, stories and more!
What’s new — a Lone Wolf of the Salish Sea pocket exhibit and LEGO fun! Learn how a wolf found his way to a Victoria-area island and how he adapted to his new surroundings.
Look for LEGO among fish and invertebrates (in cooridsupport of the Sidney Museum’s LEGO exhibit!)
With all these offerings, there is plenty for the whole family to enjoy. The Centre and Salish Sea Store are open daily from 10am to 4:30pm.
For further information, contact Leah Thorpe, Director of Operations, Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, 250.665.7511 ext 109 or leah.thorpe@salishseacentre.org