Vancouver Island Tour July 2026

Our Ocean Wise Mobile Education team spent just under two weeks on their second Vancouver Island tour of 2026. The team visited Woodgrove Mall in Nanaimo, three Victoria Public Libraries, a summer camp in Cowichan, the Royal BC Museum, ran two activations with the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority and finished it off with BC CrabFest along the waterfront! This tour was made possible in part thanks to Department of Fisheries’ and Oceans’ Habitat Stewardship Program. 

Throughout the tour the team spread the word on how Ocean Wise’s Whale Report App is helping to mitigate whale strikes and inform research, and how our Sustainable Seafood Recommendation Program and label support consumers in making informed decisions on their seafood products at grocery stores and restaurants. With the help of our Sea Dome and artifacts, the team connected with 3,528 people across southeast Vancouver Island to build lasting connections, ocean literacy, spark curiosity, and inspire all generations to take action to protect and restore our ocean. 

Making Waves for Whales

Our journey started with a splash (literally) as we spotted three humpbacks breaching while riding the ferry through the Strait of Georgia on the way to Nanaimo!  

At both the Royal BC Museum and our activations with the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, the team shared how Ocean Wise’s Whale Report App is used to inform research and help vessels on the water slow down their engines or change their route to avoid collisions with whales. Not only was the team educating folks about the ocean and the wonderful creatures it inhabits, but we were able to share and empower community members to get involved in ocean conservation, whether it’s downloading our Whale Report App and participating in community science, looking into our youth programs or visiting a Whale Trail site!   

I am so excited to use the Whale Report App on the rest of this cruise! 

Anonymous

Community members were excited to share their passion for whale conservation and were thrilled to learn about how their observations help to reduce vessel – whale collisions, and to walk away with a practical way to participate in ocean conservation. We even met a gentleman from Germany who has had the app downloaded for three years and was so excited to meet the organization that are behind it and show us his sightings. It was a wonderful moment of realizing just how far of a reach the app has and how folks all over the world are involved in ocean conservation.

Sea-riously excited for Salt Spring Island!

The team visited three libraries during this tour, two within the Greater Victoria Region, and one of them being on Salt Spring Island. This was the Mobile Education teams first time programming on Salt Spring Island and the team was very excited.   

The Sea Dome and artifacts were a hit with all members of the community as there is nothing quite like getting to touch a real piece of whale baleen or a sperm whales’ tooth! Hands-on learning opportunities like these help connect and inspire responsibility to protect these ocean giants that play a critical role in keeping our oceans healthy and thriving. It felt particularly inspiring to talk to so many youth who already held so much love, curiosity and care for the ocean and were well on their way to becoming ocean stewards who are protecting and restoring our ocean. As a smaller island community, folks of all ages were excited to use Whale Report App and participate in ocean conservation and community science in an accessible, practical and fun way! 

The Sea Dome is an unforgettable experience

Anonymous

Sustainable Seafood at Victoria’s Crab Festival 

The Ocean Wise Mobile Education team wrapped up its Vancouver Island tour by returning to the BC CrabFest at Ship Point in the Inner Harbour for a second year to celebrate sustainable seafood! Events like these provide an important opportunity to raise awareness of sustainable fishing practices and highlight the way that the Ocean Wise Seafood Recommendation Program and Label help to support the consumer make an informed decision on where their seafood is coming from. 

The community’s enthusiasm for sustainable seafood was clear, with many visitors recognizing Ocean Wise from our sustainable seafood label. It was especially encouraging to hear how many people actively look for the Ocean Wise logo when choosing seafood at their local grocery stores and restaurants!  

A special thank-you to our volunteer, Megan, whose support was greatly appreciated throughout the event! Those interested in volunteering with Ocean Wise can find all current opportunities on Vome. Whether it’s supporting one of our conservation initiatives or helping our Educators at community events, we are always looking to have volunteers come and be a part of the movement!  

In the 10 days we spent across Vancouver Island the team was gifted with the visit of three humpbacks, more eagles than they can count, and the classic sunshine and blue skies of southern British Columbia. Spending time exploring the land and waters we are lucky to call home reminds us of their incredible value and inspires our ongoing commitment to conserving and protecting our ocean.