Vancouver’s Annual Night at the Aquarium Supports Ocean Conservation

June 7, 2018
TL
ByTara Lee
4 min read

Imagine being at the Vancouver Aquarium after hours, wandering its many aquatic galleries while enjoying fabulous food and drink.

The Aquarium’s annual lavish gala, Night at the Aquarium, entails an evening of feasting and dancing, with all proceeds going to Ocean Wise’s conservation, research, and educational efforts.

On June 21, 2018, guests at the Night at the Aquarium are in for a spectacular evening. New this year is exclusive access to Douglas Coupland’s art installation, Vortex. Coupland, a well-known local writer and artist, was inspired by beachcombing trips to Haida Gwaii to create a work that interrogates his and the visitor’s relationship to plastic. The installation is a radical and thought-provoking immersion into the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and ocean pollution.

Photo Credit: Vision Event Photography

Guests can begin the evening by nibbling on canapés dreamed up by a variety of top notch and Ocean Wise establishments in town, including the Tea House in Stanley Park, the Vancouver Aquarium Catering & Events, Market by Jean-Georges at the Shangri-La Hotel Vancouver, and Notch8 Restaurant and Bar at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. It’s quite the opening line-up! Guests can sip on cocktails and other drinks from Summerhill Winery, Sea Star Vineyard, Water Caesar, and Whistler Brewing. Salt Spring Coffee and the Yellow Submarine, a mocktail, will also be available.

Photo Credit: Vision Event Photography

However, make sure to save room for the next part of the event. The night culminates in a five-course sit-down dinner featuring dishes from YEW seafood + bar, CinCin Ristorante + Bar, Botanist, Blue Water Café + Raw Bar, and Araxi Restaurant + Oyster Bar. Courses will be paired with wines from Arterra Canada, Meyer Family Vineyard, Pentage Winery, and Tinhorn Creek.

Photo Credit: Vision Event Photography

And the food portion of the evening wouldn’t be complete without sweets from Earnest Ice Cream, Soirette, Urban Fare, Water Street Café, and the Pointe Restaurant at the Wickaninnish Inn. Post dinner drinks will be provided by Ocean Blu, Salt Spring Coffee, the US Consulate, Whistler Brewing Co., and Woods Spirit Co.

Photo Credit: Vision Event Photography

When the eating’s done, there are a variety of other activities to take part in, such as dancing to the tunes played by the Daytrippers, a Beatles tribute band. There’ll also be live and silent auctions, with all sorts of exciting items to bid on, such as a trip for two on an Aquatica submersible to explore the glass sponge reefs of Howe Sound, art by Douglas Coupland, and an 11-night expedition to explore Scotland, the Faroe Islands, and Iceland on One Ocean Expedition’s newest vessel, the RCGS Resolute. Who will manage to win these great items?

Guests can also appreciate that the event will go towards the worthy conservation and education initiatives of Ocean Wise, such as the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup and the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre. Partial tax receipts will be provided for ticket purchases.

Tickets ($350 per person) and further information can be found on-line.

Vancouver Aquarium
Night at the Aquarium
Ocean Wise
ocean conservation
gala event
aquatic galleries
conservation research
educational efforts