FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            
September 29, 2008

NAME THE BABY BELUGA!

Canadians invited to submit a name

Vancouver, BC – Staff and volunteers at the Vancouver Aquarium are very pleased to invite Canadians to help us choose a name for the newest member of our beluga whale family!

Born at 4:28 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10, 2008, the female calf is engaging and amazing thousands of visitors as she grows and learns from mother Qila and grandmother Aurora.

Now it’s time to name the baby!  Starting today (Monday, September 29), Canadians are invited to visit the Vancouver Aquarium website at www.vanaqua.org to submit a name suggestion.

Submissions will be accepted up to 11:59 p.m. Friday, October 10, 2008. Our panel of judges will select five “finalist” names, and Vancouver Aquarium Members will vote on their favourite. The winning name will be published in the Vancouver Sun and announced live on Global Television’s morning news Friday, October 24, 2008. 

Five prizes each consisting of an annual Vancouver Aquarium family membership will be randomly awarded from all contest entries.  The membership provides admission to the Vancouver Aquarium for one year for two adults and three children (ages 4-18)

The Grand Prize winner will receive a “one of a kind” Beluga Encounter with the baby, Qila and Aurora hosted by our veterinarian and our Marine Mammal Curator.  Plus, the grand prize also includes an annual Vancouver Aquarium family membership and a $150.00 (CAD) gift certificate from the Gift Shop at the Aquarium.

The baby beluga, Qila and Aurora can be seen in the Vancouver Aquarium’s Arctic Canada habitat during regular open hours, and anytime on our Beluga Cam at www.vanaqua.org/belugacam

Did You Know?

• Mother Qila’s name is short for qilalugaq qualuqtaq – beluga in Inuktitut.
• Grandmother Aurora is named after the aurora borealis, the famous northern lights of her native Arctic.

About the Vancouver Aquarium:

The Vancouver Aquarium is a self-supporting, non-profit association dedicated to effecting the conservation of aquatic life through display and interpretation, conservation practices, education, research, and direct action.  Please visit www.vanaqua.org to learn more about the Vancouver Aquarium.

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Media Contacts:

Kent Hurl                                                                
Public Relations                                                  

604.659.3752                                     

kent.hurl@vanaqua.org