The Honourable Stephen Owen, Secretary of State (Western Economic Diversification) (Indian Affairs and Northern Development) today announced funding to the Vancouver Aquarium's Marine Mammal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre to expand its animal rescue operations.

Western Economic Diversification Canada will contribute $405,832 to the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre to relocate the Centre to a new site at the Port of Vancouver and acquire new marine and veterinary equipment. Funding will also allow the Aquarium to purchase a new rescue and research vessel that will be critical to rescue operations and public outreach.

"As the only facility of its kind in Western Canada, the Vancouver Aquarium is internationally recognized for its high quality education and outreach programs and marine mammal expertise," said Stephen Owen. "Western Economic Diversification Canada is proud to support the important services the Aquarium provides to the public and to marine life on the B.C. coast."

"Our new, improved facility will allow the Vancouver Aquarium to rescue and release even more animals in the future," said Jim Kershaw, Chair of the Board for the Aquarium. "The support from Western Economic Diversification Canada means a larger facility that will be able to care for additional animals, such as whales and dolphins who may be in need of our help."

The Vancouver Aquarium has been operating the Marine Mammal Rescue Program since 1960. Since that time, the program has grown from admitting one or two animals in a season, to, in some years, admitting more than 70. The Aquarium has been involved in the rescue of elephant seals, Pacific harbour seals, fur seals, sea otters, and Springer, an orphaned killer whale that was reintroduced to her family pod last summer, and made popular by the media.

The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre is a self-supporting, non-profit association dedicated to the conservation of aquatic life through display and interpretation, education, research, and direct action. The Vancouver Aquarium is contributing $308,000 to this project. The new site will be located at the foot of Main Street and has been provided by the Port of Vancouver.

Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD) is a federal department mandated to support economic diversification in communities across Western Canada through activities that promote and assist Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainable Communities. Federal funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2003 budget.

For additional information, contact:

Susan Schooley
Manager, Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Tel: (604) 666-1318

Angela Nielsen,
Public Relations Manager,
Vancouver Aquarium
Tel: (604) 659-3516
Fax: (604) 659-3566
 
Vancouver Aquarium Web site:
http://www.vanaqua.org/