An open letter in support of the Vancouver Aquarium

July 26, 2014

Mr. Mayor and Councillors, City of Vancouver
Mr. Chair and Commissioners, Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
Mr. Malcolm Bromley, General Manager, Vancouver Board of Parks and
Recreation


Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are writing to express our joint support for the Vancouver Aquarium.
The Aquarium is the Citys major tourist destination, largest cultural
institution and a globally recognized research and conservation centre.
Unlike its Canadian counterparts, the Aquarium operates without
government subsidies from any level, including the City.

We are concerned by recent comments indicating that the City of
Vancouver, through the Board of Parks and Recreation, is seriously
considering changing municipal policy to negatively affect the Aquariums
ability to continue operating as a world class cultural and educational
institution.

The Vancouver Aquarium is recognized internationally for its high standards
of animal care, the important research it conducts with many species,
including Beluga whales, its Marine Mammal Rescue Centre and its focus
on enhanced public engagement. Eighteen years ago the Aquarium took a
principled stand as the first institution in the world to pledge to never capture
cetaceans from the wild. That pledge means the Aquarium houses only
whales and dolphins that cannot live in the wild. We believe these animals
are far better off in Vancouver than they would be in other facilities
elsewhere.

Vancouver has a tremendous asset in the Aquarium. Locals and visitors
from around the world come away changed by the experience of seeing
animals up close animals they are unlikely to ever see in the wild. They
Aquarium support/ Page 2
leave more curious about and interested in current ocean issues ranging from
basic coastal ecology to the impact of climate change. And what both
Aquarium and collaborating scientists are able to learn from the animals in
the Aquariums care grows more and more important as the animals natural
environments change.

We urge that this issue be considered very carefully, and that decisions be
made based on facts. The Aquarium is a world leader and has our
unequivocal support. It deserves the same from the City of Vancouver and
the Park Board.

Most Sincerely,


Ross J. Beaty
Ned Bell
F. J. (John) Blatherwick, CM, OBC, CD,
FRCP(C)
Marilyn Blusson
Stewart L. Blusson, Ph.D., OC
Richard F. Bradshaw
Valerie Bradshaw
Peter M. Brown, OBC, LL.D.
Rob Clark
John A. Fraser, PC, OC, OBC, CD, QC
George W. Hungerford, OC, QC
Jane K. Hungerford
David Jensen
Mary C. Jordan
Paul Kennedy
Hassan Khosrowshahi
Lily Lee
Robert H. Lee, OC, OBC
Don Lindsay, OBC
Bjorn Moller
Dana Montalbano
John Montalbano
Rudy North, CM
Brian Riddell, Ph.D.
Praveen Varshney
Yosef Wosk, Ph.D., OBC





July 26, 2014


Mr. Mayor and Councillors, City of Vancouver
Mr. Chair and Commissioners, Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
Mr. Malcolm Bromley, General Manager, Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation


Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are writing to express our joint support for the Vancouver Aquarium. The Aquarium
is the Citys major tourist destination, largest cultural institution and a globally
recognized research and conservation centre. Unlike its Canadian counterparts, the
Aquarium operates without government subsidies from any level, including the City.

We are concerned by recent comments indicating that the City of Vancouver, through
the Board of Parks and Recreation, is seriously considering changing municipal policy to
negatively affect the Aquariums ability to continue operating as a world class cultural
and educational institution.

The Vancouver Aquarium is recognized internationally for its high standards of animal
care, the important research it conducts with many species, including Beluga whales, its
Marine Mammal Rescue Centre and its focus on enhanced public engagement. Eighteen
years ago the Aquarium took a principled stand as the first institution in the world to
pledge to never capture cetaceans from the wild. That pledge means the Aquarium
houses only whales and dolphins that cannot live in the wild. We believe these animals
are far better off in Vancouver than they would be in other facilities elsewhere.

Vancouver has a tremendous asset in the Aquarium. Locals and visitors from around the
world come away changed by the experience of seeing animals up close animals they
are unlikely to ever see in the wild. They leave more curious about and interested in
current ocean issues ranging from basic coastal ecology to the impact of climate change.
And what both Aquarium and collaborating scientists are able to learn from the animals
in the Aquariums care grows more and more important as the animals natural
environments change.

We urge that this issue be considered very carefully, and that decisions be made based
on facts. The Aquarium is a world leader and has our unequivocal support. It deserves
the same from the City of Vancouver and the Park Board.

Most Sincerely,

Larry Campbell
Michael Harcourt
July 28, 2014
Mr. Mayor and Councillors City of Vancouver;
Mr. Chair and Commissioners, Vancouver, Board of Parks and Recreation;
Mr. Malcolm Bromley, General Manager, Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
To all concerned,
Im writing to support our marvelous Vancouver Aquarium, in the face of a potential ill-conceived proposal
to alter municipal policy in a way that will harm the Aquarium. The potential policy change is to phase out,
within three years, the Aquarium housing any already captured or wounded cetaceans i.e. whales and
dolphins.
Even punting this proposal to the next newly elected officials, after the November 15 election, will only
create unnecessary uncertainty for the Aquariums invaluable activities.
So just say no to this misguided campaign.
Eighteen years ago the Vancouver Aquarium was the worlds first institution to pledge never to capture
cetaceans from the wild. Only whales and dolphins that cant survive in the wild are living at the Aquarium.
Plus they are far better off than at any other facilities.
Dont waste our Aquarium staff and supporters efforts. Let them focus on the Aquariums:
Marine Mammal Rescue Center;
being the Citys major tourism destination, largest cultural institution, and a globally recognized
research and conservation centre;
fiscal success-operating in the black, not needing government subsidies, unlike its other Canadian
counterparts.
Lastly, let the Vancouver Aquarium focus its people, resources and expertise, on its latest initiative-the
Coastal Ocean Research Institute. This institute will make BCs coastal ecosystems a major priority.
Its far better that the Vancouver Aquarium build on its huge success, and exciting ideas for the future, than
be diverted, delayed, held up by this ill-conceived proposal.
A green City like Vancouver does not turn its back on nature. The conservation focussed research and direct
activities that are at the core of the Vancouver Aquarium are vital to the future of the oceans, life there, and
indeed to all of us.
Yours truly,

Michael Harcourt


An open letter in support of the Vancouver Aquarium


July 26, 2014



Mr. Mayor and Councillors, City of Vancouver
Mr. Chair and Commissioners, Vancouver Board of Parks and Recreation
Mr. Malcolm Bromley, General Manager, Vancouver Board of Parks and
Recreation


Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are writing to express our joint support for the Vancouver Aquarium.
The Aquarium is the Citys major tourist destination, largest cultural
institution and a globally recognized research and conservation centre.
Unlike its Canadian counterparts, the Aquarium operates without
government subsidies from any level, including the City.

We are concerned by recent comments indicating that the City of
Vancouver, through the Board of Parks and Recreation, is seriously
considering changing municipal policy to negatively affect the Aquariums
ability to continue operating as a world class cultural and educational
institution.

The Vancouver Aquarium is recognized internationally for its high standards
of animal care, the important research it conducts with many species,
including Beluga whales, its Marine Mammal Rescue Centre and its focus
on enhanced public engagement. Eighteen years ago the Aquarium took a
principled stand as the first institution in the world to pledge to never capture
cetaceans from the wild. That pledge means the Aquarium houses only
whales and dolphins that cannot live in the wild. We believe these animals
are far better off in Vancouver than they would be in other facilities
elsewhere.

Vancouver has a tremendous asset in the Aquarium. Locals and visitors
from around the world come away changed by the experience of seeing
animals up close animals they are unlikely to ever see in the wild. They
Aquarium support/ Page 2
leave more curious about and interested in current ocean issues ranging from
basic coastal ecology to the impact of climate change. And what both
Aquarium and collaborating scientists are able to learn from the animals in
the Aquariums care grows more and more important as the animals natural
environments change.

We urge that this issue be considered very carefully, and that decisions be
made based on facts. The Aquarium is a world leader and has our
unequivocal support. It deserves the same from the City of Vancouver and
the Park Board.

Most Sincerely,



MLA Vancouver-False Creek