Get ready for the first Sunshine Coast Ocean Festival!

During Ocean Week Canada, Nicholas Sonntag Marine Education Centre will be hosting several ocean-themed events and activities based out of our community aquarium on the Sunshine Coast.

June 2nd: Outdoor movie night

Bring your friends and family down to Winegarden Park in Gibsons to catch a FINtastic film screening. We invite you to BYO picnic blanket and snacks and claim a space in the park overlooking the beautiful Howe Sound. The film will begin at sunset around 8pm and everyone is welcome. Stay tuned for our film announcement coming soon!

***In the event of rain, we will relocate to the atrium of Gibsons Public Market. Capacity will be limited to 150 attendees on a first-come basis.

June 3rd-4th: Virtual Reality Experience

Have you visited our community aquarium in Gibsons? We want to make your visit this weekend extra special by giving you the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the underwater world. We will be offering visitors the opportunity to try out some underwater virtual reality experiences under the watchful supervision of staff and/or volunteers. This is your chance to swim with the fishes without touching a drop of water!

***Reservations will be required – registration link is coming soon!

June 4th: Family Beach Seine

Our staff will be at Armours Beach from 10am-12pm for some good-old educational fun! Come on down with your friends and family for a fun-filled morning. We will be performing a beach seine so that we can (hopefully!) catch a few cool creatures and learn first-hand about some of our local marine inhabitants.

June 8th: Ocean Devotion Speed Talks

Join us on World Ocean’s Day at Gibson’s Public Market to share your love for the ocean! We are planning an evening of Ocean Devotion speed talks and we want to hear from you. Guests are invited to prepare a 5-minute talk/presentation on any ocean-related topic… and we mean ANYTHING! Do you know some interesting or weird fact you want to share about a fish? GREAT! Want to tell us about a sea slug that smells kind of fruity? WE LOVE TO HEAR IT! The only requirement for your Ocean Devotion Talk is it has to be something you care about and want to share with the world!

Sign-ups will be available on our website soon if you would like to give an Ocean Devotion Talk. Don’t feel like talking? No problem! Grab a drink from Emelle’s and listen to what others have to say – hopefully we all leave with a bit more knowledge at the end of the night.

***Stay tuned for an announcement of a few special guests from local organizations that will be making appearances as well!

More information on all our events is coming soon!! If you’d like to be the first to know when all event information is released you can sign up for our newsletter HERE.

Want to learn more about our charitable organization and community aquarium on the Sunshine Coast? Head over to our website gibsonsmarine-ed.org.