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Regional Oceans Day Events - 2002

Pacific Region

Prince Rupert, BC

Oceans Day 2002 at the Atlin Terminal in Prince Rupert, B.C. was a resounding success. Over 3,000 people came through the doors to investigate more than twenty displays. The most popular were an intertidal touch tank for kids old and young alike, and a live Rockfish display showcasing 11 species of groundfish. There were many other interesting activities including a "fish rubbing" station, the climate change wall, a groundfish "market" with samples of over 30 groundfish, locally grown and processed oysters for sale, and a whale feeding display by Northwest Community College. Participants also included the Canadian Coast Guard, celebrating their 40th anniversary, the Canadian Navy, and the World Wildlife Fund.

Campbell River, BC

Passport to the Ocean started as an idea in January and grew into a series of 10 stations with activities that all had to do with our connection to the ocean from historical times to the present day. Each of the over 250 participants received a passport, and as they progressed from station to station their passports were stamped. Along the way they visited touch tanks, tried sports fishing at the Pier, walked into a giant fish, toured a Canadian Coast Guard boat, and visited stewardship group displays about the connection between rivers and oceans. Participants also learned about the history of commercial fishing at the Museum, international connections with Campbell River's twin city in Japan, maritime heritage, aquaculture, and boat safety. A last minute addition to the festivities was the arrival of the BCP45, the famous seiner that decorated our Canadian five-dollar bill for many years. It will be housed at the new Maritime Heritage Center. The completed passports were entered for a number of donated prizes which included carvings, pottery, a box of farmed salmon, and lots of products from local businesses. All were presented by acting Mayor Ashley, who thanked the organizing committee and all who attended.

Port Hardy, BC

This year's Oceans Day events focused around the youth of the community. A 'poster-on-a-bag' contest enlisted the creativity of students from Kindergarten to Grade 7 in six different schools. With approximately 350 entries submitted, the poster judging was held on Oceans Day at the local mall where there were also displays by local marine organizations and there was cake for everyone to enjoy. Once the judging was over the event moved to the local waterfront where there were tours of the new Coast Guard vessel Cape Sutil, volunteer divers collected organisms for a touch tank, and a beach clean-up and interpretive walk took place.

Québec Region

More than 200 people from various parts of Quebec participated in shoreline cleanups along the St. Lawrence. The annual cleanup was coordinated by non-governmental organizations. Numerous pieces of plastic waste, as well as paint cans and oil drums were collected. The cleanups demonstrated the need to conduct such activities on a regular basis and to raise public awareness of the resulting environmental benefits.

Rimouski

Twenty-five volunteers armed with work gloves and garbage bags braved the driving rain to clean up the path along the Rimouski shoreline and the banks of the Rimouski River.

Bic National Park

More than 15 people got together to clean up the shoreline. Bic National Park and several Université de Québec à Rimouski professors organized the cleanup operation.

Islet-sur-Mer

About 50 people cleaned up the flat between the elementary school and the municipal campground. A number of unusual items were found including a tractor engine, several cement blocks and a number of old oil tanks. Following the cleanup, a symbolic tree planting was held.

Beauport Bay

About 20 people, including 10 scouts, turned up for the Beauport Bay shoreline cleanup. The local boating association, organizing this operation for the first time, hopes to make this an annual event. About 30 bags of waste were collected-most filled with plastic items.

Magdalen Islands

Cleanup activities were held on the beaches of Anse à la Cabane, Pointe Basse and Corfou. The scouts of Havre-Aubert, Havre-aux-Maisons and Étang-du-Nord helped nearly 60 people with this shoreline cleanup.

Maurice Lamontagne Institute

The shoreline cleanup at MLI was conducted by close to 30 MLI employees. Organized by the MLI Environmental Committee, this event coincided with Environment Week. An "Oceans Day" kiosk was also put up in the research centre. A poster and information kits prepared by the Canadian Wildlife Federation on protecting marine species threatened by climate change were distributed.

A notice to the media was issued, and information kits on Oceans Day as well as t-shirts were distributed to the media in the maritime areas of Quebec and to non-profit organizations.

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Gulf Region

In the Tracadie-Sheila Area, a series of presentations were made in 15 Acadian Peninsula schools. This joint effort between Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Centre sur l'environement de la Péninsule acadienne et ses environs was meant to teach students the importance of watershed stewardship. As a follow up to these talks, an essay contest was organized to encourage the students to further their knowledge of watersheds, stewardship and sound environmental practices. Two winners were chosen on Oceans Day and their essays were published in L'Acadie Nouvelle newspaper. Their school libraries will also receive a computer and $500 worth of books.

DFO staff participated in the first annual Shediac Bay Watershed Association World Oceans Day celebration and Community Beach Sweep. This daylong event began with six area beaches cleaned up by volunteers. The participants then gathered at the Shediac Interpretation Center where there were presentations, exhibits, a band and a barbecue. Hundreds of people visited the site.

DFO staff set up a booth at the Moncton farmer's market, handing out brochures, posters and other promotional material. Traffic was brisk and inquiries were varied. Many teachers inquired about DFO school related materials and many people made positive comments about World Oceans Day.

Maritimes Region

Dartmouth, NS - Bedford Institute of Oceanography Tour

On June 7, 2002, a dozen international students from the Halifax-based International Oceans Institute of Canada (IOIC) were treated to an all-day tour of the Bedford Institute of Oceanography (BIO). This tour is part of an annual commitment by Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) to the International Oceans Institute training program, now in its 22nd year at Dalhousie University. The presentations and tour aim to deepen the understanding of the ever-increasing importance of the oceans and their resources and the initiatives by the Canadian government to address the management of our oceans. Students were given presentations from staff on a broad range of topics including Integrated Oceans Management in the Eastern Scotian Shelf, the Marine Protected Areas (MPA) Program, "The Gully" MPA, Bras d'Or Lakes Science for Integrated Management, Community-based Fisheries Management, and SEAMAP. Students also had the opportunity to tour the BIO facility - visiting the Fish Lab, the Sea Pavilion, and NRCan's Core Repository. DFO's Shannon Hill Vessel Traffic Management Centre was also toured.

Fisherman's Cove, Nova Scotia Beach Cleanup

Twenty-five citizens from Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia, participated in an Oceans Day Beach Sweep around the popular family area known as the Crick and Boardwalk. About a dozen adults and over a dozen children, aged 8 to 11, combed the beach area for four hours around the low tide. They collected an impressive amount of debris - 12 garbage bags, two blue bags, and one huge tractor tire along with a bike, ATV tires, and a skateboard. The community has asked that the Fisherman's Cove cleanup be repeated next year, and a second beach area close to the point has also been suggested.

Newfoundland Region

Newfoundland Science Centre

Oceans Day celebrations began on Friday, June 7 at the Newfoundland Science Centre in St. John's. DFO launched two interactive and educational displays. Close to 20 children from The Children's Centre attended the launch and enjoyed a puppet show at the Oceans display. Five-year-old Lewis Fearon and Deidre Maguire helped DFO staff cut the ribbon to officially launch the new exhibits.

St. John's, NF - Avalon Mall

In partnership with the Body Shop, DFO celebrated Oceans Day at the Avalon Mall. DFO staff spent the day talking to mall visitors about Oceans Day and giving out posters and brochures. Visitors had the opportunity to win several prizes including an Elizabeth Burry whale print and colourful prizes donated by the Body Shop. Body Shop staff entertained children with face painting and visitors to the DFO booth took the Oceans Day trivia quiz testing their knowledge of the ocean.

Terra Nova National Park

On Saturday, June 8, the celebrations continued at Terra Nova National Park. Over 100 people visited Terra Nova Park to take part in Oceans Day activities. DFO staff demonstrated the echo-model that teaches kids about healthy habitats, showed how baleen filters small particles out of the water, and distributed brochures, colouring books and posters. Fishery Officer Lloyd Slaney demonstrated some of his equipment including night vision goggles and underwater cameras. Students from the Search and Rescue IRB (Inshore Rescue Boat) did some on-the-water demonstrations in a fast rescue craft and displayed some safe-boating equipment in the Canadian Coast Guard kiosk.

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West Coast/Southern Labrador, NF

A school project is being planned targeting 12 elementary schools. Information packages are being sent to each school whereby they will plan and implement their own Oceans Day "project". DFO staff will assist as needed. In Corner Brook, a joint effort with ACAP Humber Arm and DFO will involve a World Oceans Day Display Booth at a public shopping mall. Ocean information will be distributed and prizes will be drawn for visitors. This event will take place during the week following Oceans Day (June10 - 14).

Goose Bay, Labrador

On the West Coast in Southern Labrador, DFO assisted a number of local schools with their Oceans Day activities. Approximately 30 students and five teachers took part in a clean up that collected two truckloads of garbage. DFO provided a truck to take the garbage to the dump.

Leading Tickles - Grand Falls-Windsor

DFO staff in Grand Falls-Windsor had their own exciting event in Leading Tickles Elementary School. DFO staff visited the school to talk to grades K-6 about ocean conservation. Following the school visit, the students, parents and teachers joined DFO staff in a beach sweep and BBQ at Ocean View Park.

DFO staff also held an event at the Exploits Valley Mall that attracted close to 200 people. Office of Boating Safety brought along their trailer and demonstrated some safe boating equipment. Conservation and Protection were on hand demonstrating some of their equipment and giving tours of a fast response craft. The children especially enjoyed the visit from Pukta, the OBS mascot.

Central & Arctic Region

Youth from all six Inuvialuit communities travelled to Tuktoyaktuk to participate in Oceans Day. Oceans Day was co-sponsored by the Fisheries Joint Management Committee and the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk. The celebration started with a parade through Tuktoyaktuk. During the afternoon there were many activities such as fish cutting, traditional food eating contest, harpoon throwing and a land kayak race, as well as many children's activities. At the same time there was a barbecue with fish, caribou, muktuk, and hotdogs. In the evening there was even more food, this time in the form of a feast. Information booths were set up in Kitti Hall, door prizes were given out and to end it all the Tuktoyaktuk Drummers and Dancers performed. Their was a tremendous turnout by the community and all had fun celebrating the ocean and its importance to community well being.

National Capital Region

Canadian Museum of Nature, Ottawa, ON

DFO participated in an Oceans Day Celebration from June 5 to 9 at the Canadian Museum of Nature. This year's event, coordinated by the Oceans Day Partners Working Group, focused on climate change. Through a series of interactive stations, kids discovered the impact of climate change on ocean life, took the ocean exploration challenge, and explored the resource area to find out what they could do to protect oceans even if they live far from their shores. The exhibit was well attended, especially during the week when several school field trips visited the museum. On the weekend, crafts and face painting were also part of the celebrations.