We proudly present SpongeBob SquarePants™ in 4-D! Plus Meet & Greet SpongeBob SquarePants™ daily during Spring BreakGet ready, landlubbers! This year, Spring Break is going to be bigger and wetter than ever before!
 Soak up the excitement and special effects with our SpongeBob SquarePants 4-D animation movie - Free with Admission to the Aquarium.
Not only will you be able to see SpongeBob on the big screen , but you’ll also be able to meet and greet him daily during Spring Break 10am – 1pm, March 5 – 14.
Also meet some of SpongeBob's underwater friends by getting up close and hands on with them at our Touch Pool Stations. Kids of all ages will have an opportunity to engage with an array of multicoloured marine life including prickly sea stars and sticky sea anemones like they’ve never experienced before!
Plus, did you know that sponges are animals? Learn about some of the amazing sponges that live right off the coast of British Columbia through a series of hands on activities and amazing video footage.
Make your trip complete by joining in our daily Spotlight on Canada guided tours. Plus, enter our Explore Canada Scavenger Hunt for a chance to win a $200 Visa Gift Card.
Costumed Character © 2010 Viacom International Inc. All Rights Reserved. Created by Stephen Hillenburg.
Family Fun Twilight Tuesday
Tuesday May 4, 2010 – 5:30-8:30pm Member-only event featuring:
• Bobs & Lolo – connecting kids to nature through live song and dance
• Stuffed Animal Hospital – inspiring kids to care for marine mammals
• Experience the Amazon at Night – join us on guided tours of the Amazon gallery
We’ll send you an email mid-March with Twilight Tuesday registration information.
Aquarium HeroesOur Magnificent Animals!Treasures from the Vancouver Aquarium Archives
Even celebrities cannot resist the star power of our magnificent animals!
Since it opened on June 15, 1956, the Vancouver Aquarium has been attracting tourists from around the world.
Royalty
In 1983, Queen Elizabeth II came to open the Graham Amazon Gallery. Here is Dr. Murray A. Newman's account of the occasion from Life in a Fishbowl: As we approached the marmoset exhibit, the queen took in the beautifully created scene. .... tree branches extended along the side of the exhibit, enabling the animals to come to the glass. This our two perfectly matched marmosets did, leaping up to perch side by side and peer at the queen, who peered back. (181)
Her Royal Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is greeted by James and Isabelle Graham outside the Aquarium in 1983. Government Officials
In 1971, Pierre Elliott Trudeau with his wife Margaret came to open the new killer whale habitat.
In Life in a Fishbowl Dr. Murray A. Newman comments on the Prime Minister preparing to meet Skana, a celebrity in her own right.
The prime minister of Canada removed his coat, revealing a natty striped shirt. Then he donned rubber boots and nimbly jumped down onto our immaculate new whale feeding platform. ... As he grasped the fish in his hand and bent over the water, Mr. Trudeau got a close-up view of Skana's forty-four cone-shaped teeth and large pink tongue. (152) 
Margaret and Pierre Trudeau tour the classrooms during their official visit in 1971.
The Aquarium has also been the target destination for ambassadors, dignitaries and politicians from all over the world.
Celebrities From 1984-1990 the Aquarium was a film location for Danger Bay, a half-hour television series co-produced by the CBC and the Disney Channel. Danger Bay starred Donnelly Rhodes as Dr. Grant Roberts, a veterinarian and marine specialist at the Vancouver Aquarium who was also busy raising his children, Jonah and Nicole, played by Chris Crabb and Ocean Hellman. According to the Museum of Broadcast Communications: The aquarium and nearby coastal waters off Vancouver provided the exotic backdrop for many of the show's adventures which often focused on the children but which always involved the whole family. Plots usually presented some kind of peril or violence to the animals at the aquarium or surrounding area and each week the strong and daring "Doc" Roberts would foil the greedy and selfish schemes of poachers, hunters and developers who posed a threat to the animals and environment. 
Danger Bay cast and crew film in the interior of the Aquarium. In addition to being the primary location for a popular television series, the Aquarium has attracted film, TV and sports celebrities from all over North America. Some of these include Nicole Kidman, Cindy Crawford, Ben Stiller, Hayden Panettiere, Steven Spielberg, Robin Williams, Audrey Hepburn, Dame Judi Dench, Hugh Jackman, and Colin Farrell. Famous athletes who have been here include Vancouver Canucks Daniel and Henrik Sedin, basketball great Shaquille O’Neil and the NHL’s Jarome Iginla who visited us as a player for Team Canada during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. Also during the Winter Olympics, the Aquarium was enjoyed by many Olympians from Canada, USA, Australia and Switzerland to name just a few. 
Audrey Hepburn visits the Aquarium in 1988. Photograph by Finn Larsen.
The Vancouver Aquarium Library and Archives welcomes aquarium or marine science-related reference questions from members. Contact library@vanaqua.org if you have a question or if you would like to know more about the Vancouver Aquarium Library and Archives.
Article and materials developed by Aquarium Volunteer Library Assistant Mayu Ishida.
back to top »
Aquarium KidsDances with Wolf Eels
 There are some strange looking fish in the cold waters of British Columbia, but perhaps the fiercest face belongs to the wolf eel. We have seen many surprised expressions on our visitors faces when they see the purple-grey heads of the wolf eel poking out of the caves in our Pacific Canada Exhibit. However, when you look past their appearance, you’ll find one of the most interesting fish in all of B.C.
Wolf eels get their name from their sharp teeth which are used to eat sea urchins, crabs, and other shelled animals that are too crunchy for most fish to eat. You’ll see these teeth a lot because wolf eels have to continually open and close their mouths in order to breathe.
Unlike the moray and garden eels in the Tropic Zone, wolf eels are not true members of the eel group, but they share their long, snake-like body that helps them to hide in caves. Because only their faces poke out of these caves, wolf eels hide their true size well; some have been found that are more than two meters long! When they aren’t resting on the ocean bottom, wolf eels will sometimes swim alongside SCUBA divers. They may not win many beauty contests, but people come to our oceans from all around the world to dive with these unique fish.
Believe it or not, wolf eels are also some of the most active parents in the fish world. Moms and dads take turns looking after the eggs, which they lay in groups of thousands. The Vancouver Aquarium was the first to raise baby wolf eels. Since the two wolf eels in our Pacific Canada Exhibit are preparing to lay eggs, we might have another batch of babies on the way. You can spot their den from the window on the left side of the habitat (across from the red-eyed tree frogs), and if you’re lucky, they might come out to play in our daily show Creatures Off Our Coast. You can also see wolf eels in the Treasures of the BC Coast gallery.
back to top »
Field Notes
Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup – Visit our new website, just in time for 2010 Registration!
This Vancouver Aquarium conservation initiative invites you to become part of a solution.
 As we start a new decade, the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup is making changes and will be looking a little different. Over the next few months, we will be implementing a number of changes based on feedback we have received over the years from our valued Site Coordinators.
We have revamped our website with a new look and a new URL: www.shorelinecleanup.ca Please update your bookmark and spend some time looking around our new website.
 Registration for the 2010 Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup opens later this month and our 2010 cleanup is takes place September 18 – 26, 2010.
Fun facts from the 2009 Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup:
- In one week, nearly 161,000 kg of litter was removed from 2,457 km of lake, ocean, river and stream shorelines.
- 2,457 km is approximately the driving distance between Vancouver and the provincial border for Manitoba/Ontario.
- 161,000 kg of litter is nearly equivalent to the weight of 358 male moose.
- Most litter removed in the 2009 Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup originated from land-based sources.
- Top 3 items removed in 2009: Cigarettes,cigarette filters, food wrappers and containers and plastic bags.
To learn more about the 2009 Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, visit www.shorelinecleanup.ca.
Remember, 2010 registration opens later this month. Keep checking www.shorelinecleanup.ca for updates. Cleanup sites go fast, so keep your eyes peeled!
For more information on how to join the Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, send an email to: shorelinecleanup@vanaqua.org or call 1-877-427-2422. Did you know?
 A male killer whale stays with his mother his entire life! Killer whales live in family groups called a pod, and the only way to join a pod is to be born into it.
The BC Wild Killer Whale Adoption Program (KWAP) is a research and conservation program of the Vancouver Aquarium founded in 1992. KWAP raises funds to support ground-breaking research on wild killer whales - research that is proving essential in the effort to protect these magnificent animals and their habitat.
To find out more visit the BC Wild Killer Whale Adoption Program website.
POST Exhibit Launched
 The exhibit consists of a few components peppered in different locations around the galleries. Be sure to visit the Aquarium again soon and explore each of these elements:
- Strait of Georgia Exhibit – look beyond the rockfish, sturgeon and kelp to see POST research equipment floating in place. The screen to your right explains what the yellow float is, and gives you a brief introduction to POST.
- Treasures of the BC Coast Gallery – As you enter the gallery, look at the wall displaying a large map – the map shows you where POST lines are listening for tagged fish along our coast. Then peer into the Long Beach and Sechelt habitats as you walk through the gallery to find more yellow floats marking the way.
- Canaccord Exploration Gallery – interact with the large touch screen, to the left of the jellies, to learn how scientists are using POST and what they’re discovering. And get up close and personal with real research equipment used to track animals for thousands of kilometres along the West Coast.
 If you’re looking for even more, pop by the Windows on Research desk to chat with one of the fabulous volunteers who are featuring POST over the next few months.
POST is a fascinating research project. To stay informed about POST, point your browser to www.postcoml.org and sign up for the monthly newsletter from the home page.
What a Chef Makes at Home for Dinner
Myke Shaw, Executive Sous Chef
Vancouver Aquarium Catering and Events
 As a chef I always get asked about what I make for dinner at home. First, I always try and practice what I preach at home. I like to use as many local and/or organic ingredients as possible and I use only Ocean Wise recommended seafood. I am a simple cook at home; I like my ingredients to speak for themselves. I usually don’t have a lot of time, so my dinners tend to be ready in 20-30 minutes. I admit I do have a penchant for using imported ingredients. I love good quality olive oil and beautiful balsamic vinegars.
 The best way to get to know your food is to talk to your grocer. Don’t ever be afraid to learn where your food comes from; you just might develop more love for your food.
Here’s a recipe I often make. I change some of the vegetables depending on the season. I also find that the price of organics comes down quite a bit when you use what’s in season. I have a little saying that always plays in my head when I pick ingredients, “what grows together goes together”.
I have a lot of food allergies and one of them is to wheat, so this recipe reflects that. You do not have to use corn pasta for this dish, but you might want to try it for a change of pace. Corn pasta is a little denser than regular pastas and makes this dish a little bit hardier.
Ocean Wise Scallop and Buffalo Chorizo Penne (Serves 4)
500 g. sliced button mushrooms
500 g. spinach
1 large zucchini halved and sliced
1 lemon zest and juice
2 links buffalo chorizo sliced
1 small bunch Italian parsley finely chopped
1 bunch basil sliced thinly *Tip- stack leaves on top of each other and roll them into a cigar shape. This makes it easier to slice.
2 cloves garlic crushed *Tip- if you use organic garlic, it does tend to be a bit stronger.
500 g. cherry tomatoes
8 large Ocean Wise Qualicum Bay Scallops halved
400 g. good quality parmesan cheese grated
100 g. good quality parmesan cheese shaved
½ cup of extra virgin olive oil
4 tbsp. balsamic fig glaze
340 g. bag corn penne pasta following bag instructions to cook
¼ cup white wine (you can substitute with water)
1 can large pitted black olives drained
sea salt
fresh ground pepper
 I like to put my pasta water on to boil as I cut up all my ingredients.
I start cooking the sauce while the pasta is cooking.
In a large sauce pan over medium heat, add half the olive oil.
Add sliced mushrooms, a pinch of sea salt, sliced buffalo chorizo and white wine.
Sauté until mushrooms are cooked, add crushed garlic, spinach, sliced zucchini, whole cherry tomatoes, 2/3 chopped parsley, and 2/3 sliced basil, lemon juice and zest.
Cook until the cherry tomatoes barely start to pop open, then turn off the heat.
Add drained cooked pasta, remaining olive oil, black pitted olives, shredded parmesan cheese, halved scallops.
Mix thoroughly and cover and let stand for five minutes. Stir about once per minute.
The scallops will cook with the residual heat from the pasta and the sauce.
 When the scallops are cooked, season with fresh ground pepper and sea salt to taste.
Portion out pasta and garnish with shaved parmesan cheese, remaining parsley and basil.
Drizzle top with balsamic fig glaze. Enjoy!
back to top »
Ask Dr. Marty
Do you have a question about an Aquarium Animal? Ask Dr. Marty!
Q: How is blood drawn from an Aquarium dolphin?
A:
Regular blood collection is an important part of the preventative
health program at the Aquarium. In order to make that as easy as
possible, all of our dolphins and whales are trained to present their
tails and voluntarily allow us to collect blood samples from blood
vessels near the surface of the tail flukes.
Q: How do you weigh a sea turtle?
A: Schoona,
our sea turtle, is trained to swim into a shallow side pool to
facilitate physical exams. When she was small we could gently lift her
onto a platform scale to weigh her. Now that she is quite a bit bigger
it is very difficult to lift her by hand, so we have a special sling
that was designed to safely support her weight. We weigh her using a
scale above the pool.
 Dr Martin Haulena DVM, MSc, Dipl. ACZM
Dr.
Martin Haulena, is the staff veterinarian at the Vancouver Aquarium.
Dr. Haulena leads our animal health team of technicians and
volunteers. He and his team work closely with aquarium animals ranging
from large marine mammals to fish and even bats! Dr. Haulena’s
expertise is applied to the needs of Vancouver Aquarium animals and is
also shared internationally with colleagues on various projects. back to top »
Creature Feature
Polar Eelpout (Lycodes polaris)Our Polar Eelpout Family is Expanding!
 In the crisp waters of the Arctic Ocean, a team of Vancouver Aquarium divers collected a variety of species for display. Their expedition was in Resolute Bay in August 2009.
Their exploration enabled the collection of polar eelpout eggs. The eggs were incubated until they started hatching just prior to last Christmas. So far, approximately 75 have hatched and are doing well. Unlike many other fish species, they hatch like miniature adults, fully pigmented, with fully formed fin rays and a large yolk sac.
 There is little known about the Lycodes species of eelpout as they are mostly found in the frigid waters of the North Pacific, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans. Lycodes typically reside at great depths – a location that poses a real challenge for researchers.
Eelpout Facts
• found mostly in mud bottoms at shallow to moderate depths on the continental shelf
• bury themselves in the mud tail first
• colouring: bright orange to light brown
• loosely attached, their gelatinous skin is thought to be an adaptation to aid in buoyancy
• scales are usually absent
• 25cm. is their approximate length
• 200 different species of eelpouts world wide
Don’t miss the Polar Eelpouts display next time you visit our new Canada’s Arctic gallery!
back to top »
Programs and Events
Family Programs
Clownfish Cove was a very popular spot in February! Thank you for bringing your family to enjoy some the special activities we were happy to offer in that wonderful space for young minds.
As the Aquarium returns to a more normal schedule, please note that Family Programs will return to a 10:30 start time. You’ll see our “theme weeks” operating Monday to Friday.
Musical Wednesdays also return on March 3. The Aquarium team spent many hours preparing some new tunes for the singalong – we don’t want to spoil the surprise, but we promise that some of these songs may be very familiar to parents who easily recall the 1980s and 1990s.
The full schedule below shows you what to expect at our morning programs. Remember to check the schedule “bubbles” in Clownfish Cove every time you visit – we always have new information about story time and animal touching opportunities “bubbling up”.
Derek Jang
Interpretation Specialist
The next Super Saturday is March 13! Sharks, octopuses, anacondas and many other animals in our galleries have been monster successes in blockbuster movies, but is there any truth to their reputation as man-eaters? We’ll spend the morning examining the Aquarium’s biggest monster movie stars, dispelling some common myths, and figuring out how our trainers work with the Aquarium’s most dangerous animals. Don’t miss out on this exciting roving tour, which will begin at 8:55 am. Questions? Contact Derek.Jang@vanaqua.org for more information.
Come and start the day with us! We'll be opening the Aquarium early at 8:30 am for members only. Adults enjoy complimentary coffee or tea and a copy of the Vancouver Sun, and special family-friendly programs are offered all morning as well.
Save the date for another Super Saturday; circle April 10 on your calendar!
Scotiabank Charity Challenge
 Aquarium members, friends and families are invited to participate in the 2010 Scotiabank Charity Challenge Run on June 27, 2010 in support of the Vancouver Aquarium. Tie on your running (or walking!) shoes and join the Aquarium’s inaugural charity running team. Register for Vancouver’s most scenic, runner-friendly half marathon.
Families and walkers can register for the 5K walk/run, which starts and finishes in beautiful Stanley Park. Participants can choose to raise funds to support Aquarium programs; the easy, on-line fundraising option goes to our conservation, research and education programs. Register at www.vancouverhalf.com or contact Margot Paris at margot.paris@vanaqua.org or 604.659.3787 for information on how runners who fundraise can earn a ‘free’ registration!
Spring Clubs for KidsWe’re looking forward to showing you our new series of Spring Clubs where you can learn more about the planet’s ecosystems. From the Pacific Northwest to the Amazon and the Tropics to the Arctic, children will focus on learning about each area’s animals, people and environment. For full details visit the clubs website. AquaTots (age 3-4)
Parent participation required.
Saturdays – March 27, April 24, May 29, and June 19
10:00 – 11:00 am
$30/child per session ($24 for members)
$90 for all four sessions ($72 for members)
Sea Squirts (grades K-2)
Saturdays – March 27, April 24, May 29, and June 19
10:00 – 11:15 am
$35/child per session ($28 for members)
$105 for all four sessions ($84 for members)
AquaNauts (grades 3-5)
Saturdays – March 27, April 24, May 29, and June 19
1:00 – 2:30 pm
$40/child per session ($32 for members)
$120 for all four sessions ($96.00 for members)
Ocean Explorers (grades 6-8)
Saturdays – March 27, April 24, May 29, and June 19
1:00 – 3:00 pm
$45/child per session ($36 for members)
$135 for all four sessions ($108 for members)
PLEASE NOTE:
The discount for all four sessions will only apply if registration occurs prior to the first session. A free t-shirt is included for those who sign up for all four sessions.
Registration will close at 4:30 pm on the Wednesday before each session is offered. EventsMother’s Day Dinner
 Come and experience Mother’s Day with our family on Sunday May 9th 2010.
Aurora, Qila, Tiqa and our newest addition Nala would like you to join them for an evening of fabulous food, fun and family on Mother’s Day. Get a front row seat of our moms and calves in their habitat while enjoying a succulent dinner buffet created by our own culinary team. Finish the evening off with our signature chocolate fondue for dessert and a walk around the Canada’s Arctic deck.
Dinner will be served in our brand new Canada’s Arctic Gallery where you’ll be able to visit our Arctic char and cod display along with the digital touch point screens and graphics highlighting Canada’s Arctic.
Cost:
$65.00 per person*
Children 3 and under are free
Children 4-12 are half price
Registration:
Pre-registration is necessary for all bookings. The closing date for registration is Wednesday May 5, 2010 pending availability. To register, please phone 604.659.3456.
- 72-hour cancellation policy: if the booking is cancelled under 72 hours, the credit card will be charged 50% of the of the food bill.
- Tables of 6-8 can be reserved. Otherwise, seating will be available on a first come, first served basis.
*Membership discount does not apply
back to top »
Updates
Exciting changes in the Amazon Gallery
The arrival of March brings renovations to the anaconda habitat and the adjacent frog and snake habitats. While we spruce things up, the animals normally found in these habitats will be temporarily relocated for their safety and comfort. All of the other animals and habitats within the Amazon Gallery will be visible as usual and we’ll provide you another update once all animals return to their normal habitats for viewing. Daisy has new friends
 These salmon will help to create a more dynamic habitat while creating a more enriching experience for Daisy. When you visit the underwater viewing gallery in our Canada’s Arctic exhibit, you’re likely to find the salmon schooling at the window which is a wonderful, unique opportunity to observe them closely and maybe even capture a great photo.
back to top »
|