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Let's Celebrate the Sea!

3-4 February 2023 | Jack Poole Plaza • Vancouver

ON-SITE PLAZA ACTIVITIES – Ocean Education brought to you by the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition, the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, Parks Canada, and more.

Children of all ages will be entertained and delighted by several interactive activity tents and photo ops.

Build a  whale

Build-A-Whale: The hands-on, all-ages activity allows participants to assist in constructing the skeleton of an offshore killer whale while learning about the biology, ecology, anatomy, evolution, and conservation of killer whales and other marine mammals.


CPAWS Dive into Ocean Conservation Tent: Join the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society, Ocean Wise, and conservation organizations from all three coasts in the CPAWS Dive into Ocean Conservation Tent for family-friendly, ocean-themed activities and to find out how Canada is protecting our majestic wildlife and ecosystems to ensure a bright, blue future for generations to come.

Photo: CPAWS-NB

Dive In with Sea Smart and Nature Canada: Do you like to eat seafood? Did you ever wonder where it came from, how it was caught and how those fish are doing? Get your feet wet and join Sea Smart and Nature Canada for a fun interactive experience to learn about sustainable seafood and fisheries bycatch! Learn about what you can do to protect our oceans with fun hands-on activities and become an ocean hero!


Drag Story Time with Freida Whales: Join Nature Canada and Freida Whales for a read aloud story about your favourite marine animals!

Saturday 4 February from 12pm – 2pm


Food Trucks: Grab a bite, a hot chocolate, or some mini donuts! Featuring Green Coast Coffee, Cravings Kettle Corn, Little oOties Mini Doughnuts, Shameless Buns, Urban Wood Fire Pizza, Taco ‘N Todo, B&B Burgers, and Teriyaki Express.


Giant Pacific Octopus art installation: an interactive and collaborative art project for all ages! Come take part in an onsite art installation of the Giant Pacific Octopus. We are asking YOU to express your hopes and dreams for the ocean by participating in the build and design of this amazing art installation. Presented by the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition.


Gulf of Georgia Cannery: Salmon is an integral part of the culture, economy and ecosystem of British Columbia. At the Gulf of Georgia Cannery National Historic Site, we are doing our part towards the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Below Water. Our booth will highlight how our educational programming brings this important work alive by integrating themes of action and engagement with the history of Canada’s West Coast fishing. Plus – join us to play our Salmon spin-wheel game for the chance to win a free visit to the Cannery!


Interactive Ocean Floor Map: This giant floor map (8m x 11m) is made for walking on, allowing you to understand the ocean and waterways by physically experiencing them! Augmented Reality, 360° video, and other interactive activities will help bring this giant map to life. Presented by the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition, Ocean School, and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society.


Kids Art Zone: Enjoy children’s face painting from 12pm – 6pm and ocean themed colouring pages inspired by Vancouver Mural Festival artists on February 4.


Metro Vancouver: Join Metro Vancouver to learn what you can do to help protect our local waters, for example, washing clothes in cold water to reduce microfibre shedding. Our Ocean Thanks You! Learn more about how Metro Vancouver manages wastewater from homes and businesses to support healthy waters for current and future generations. Have your say in a new plan that will set out actions for the region to protect our rivers, lakes, and ocean.


Photo moments: Come and take your photo with the Parks Canada Giant Inflatable Beaver featured at the Vancouver Olympic Opening Ceremonies and Baleen, the humpback whale. Presented by Parks Canada and the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society.


Royal Canadian Navy: Come enjoy ocean-inspired music from the Naden Band of the Royal Canadian Navy along with a special appearance of the Navy Bus featuring interactive computer systems showcasing the Navy’s many roles.


Sacred Journey Traveling Exhibit: In this mini pop-up exhibit teaser (full exhibit at Science World), discover how the Tribal Canoe Journeys have catalyzed the revitalization of Indigenous culture, community healing, and youth empowerment on the Pacific Northwest Coast. Immerse yourself into this amazing journey – told through metaphoric art, immersive audio, projections, and interactive displays featuring Indigenous Water Guardians videos. Presented by Heiltsuk Tribal Council, the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition and produced by SeeQuest Development Co. and Greencoast Media Inc.


Storytelling of the Orca Chief by Roy Henry Vickers, musical performance by the Chinook SongCatchers: For more than 20 years The Chinook SongCatchers represented the rich cultures of the Squamish and Nisga’a people through song, dance and public speaking to audiences in Canada, Japan, Taiwan and across Europe. Order of Canada recipient Roy Henry Vickers is an award-winning Indigenous artist, author and storyteller whose artworks are celebrated around the world.


Vancouver Fraser Port Authority: The Port of Vancouver tent invites visitors to learn about Canada’s largest port. Test your skills with the Match the Commodity game or learn about the port’s environmental programs with our Environment Wall game. The port booth also features fun giveaways for all ages.


Vancouver Maritime Museum: At the VMM Booth, the public can learn about our upcoming events and newest exhibitions: A Wild & Wet Coast: Rum-Running During Prohibition, The Children’s Gallery, and Souls Ignited: Empowering the Voices of Our Ancestors. We will also have an ocean-themed sandbox and children’s dress-up station with kelp and starfish costumes!


Water Rangers: When it comes to protecting water, we need all hands on deck. Come visit the Water Rangers tent to learn how you can help collect much-needed water quality data! With easy-to-use scientific equipment and fun experiments for all ages, you’ll learn how to help scientists gather critical information about water health.


ACTIVITIES BEYOND JACK POOLE PLAZA: Many organizations are celebrating the sea with their own activities and events alongside IMPAC5 and the Ocean Festival happening at Jack Poole Plaza. Visit their websites to learn more about each fun ocean-inspired event!

A Conversation with Dr. Sylvia Earle: Join CPAWS for an inspiring evening with world-famous ocean conservation champion Dr. Sylvia Earle!

Visit the Event Website


Festival of Ocean Films: Celebrate our connection to the ocean with Georgia Strait Alliance’s Festival of Ocean Films! Returning this February after a two year pause, the Festival features beautiful films helping you explore your relationship to the sea, rivers, and other bodies of water, and inspiring conversation and action to protect local waters.

Visit the Festival of Ocean Films Website


IMPAC5 Ocean Fest 2023 – CPAWS BC: The BC chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society invites you to celebrate the ocean and our BC coast! Special Speaker nights, art and advocacy workshops, contests, live music and more.

Visit the CPAWS-BC Ocean Fest 2023 Website


Ocean Literacy Dialogues: The Ocean Literacy Dialogues series is a global collaboration led by the Ocean Literacy With All community – a UN Ocean Decade-endorsed program coordinated by IOC-UNESCO. The aim of the Ocean Literacy Dialogues series is to co-organize public events that enable knowledge exchange across different geographical and socio-cultural contexts, and that catalyze action as we work together to achieve the overarching goal of the UN Ocean Decade (2021-2030): to ‘change humanity’s relationship with the ocean.’ This is the essence of ocean literacy.

Visit the Ocean Literacy Dialogues Website

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU IN VANCOUVER IN FEBRUARY 2023

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