NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

Office of the Premier

Vancouver Aquarium

May 23, 2008

VANCOUVER AQUARIUM MAKES NEW WAVES AT BEIJING AQUARIUM

BEIJING – Premier Gordon Campbell today officially unveiled the Vancouver Aquarium’s brand new

exhibit in China, Treasures of Canada’s Pacific Coast, at a ribbon-cutting ceremony in Beijing, China.

Premier Campbell was joined by Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources Canada, B.C. Economic

Development Minister Colin Hansen, Vancouver Aquarium president Dr. John Nightingale, and

Vancouver Aquarium board member James Ho for the official public ceremony to celebrate the

collaboration between the aquariums in Vancouver and Beijing.

“This exhibit of British Columbia’s marine life here in Beijing is a testament to the strong connections

that exist between B.C. and China, and the incredible spirit of co-operation between the

Vancouver Aquarium and Beijing Aquarium,” said Premier Campbell. “It’s also a powerful reminder

of our shared responsibility to conserve and protect our oceans for future generations.”

Treasures of Canada’s Pacific Coast is a long-term temporary display at the Beijing Aquarium

featuring six living displays of British Columbia’s marine (ocean) fish and invertebrates, including

rockfish, ratfish, sea stars, sea anemones and more. The exhibit also features displays and a video

presenting B.C.’s beautiful diverse and rich ocean coastline.

“On behalf of the Government of Canada, I want to congratulate the Vancouver Aquarium on

this wonderful exhibit featuring the Treasures of Canada’s Pacific Coast and applaud the partnership

between the Vancouver and Beijing aquariums,” said Lunn. “This exhibit is an excellent reminder of

our collective responsibilities to protect marine environments for future generations. I believe this

exhibit will be a highlight for the thousands of visitors to the Beijing 2008 Olympics and Paralympics

games and will encourage people to visit the 2010 winter games in Canada.”

“The Vancouver Aquarium is very excited about our strong partnership with our colleagues at

the Beijing Aquarium,” said Nightingale. “This collaboration allows us to showcase the amazing

marine life found along the British Columbia coast to millions of people who may not have visited our

part of the world.”

Open to coincide with the British Columbia Canada Pavilion for the 2008 Olympic and

Paralympic Summer Games, this brand new marine exhibit in the Beijing Aquarium highlights the

amazing beauty of British Columbia’s coastline and the fascinating qualities of the aquatic animals

making their natural home along the shores of this province.

The Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre 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.

For more information and for images of this historic event, please visit www.vanaqua.org.

To download photos from Premier Campbell’s mission to South Korea and China, go to www.gov.bc.ca/KoreaChina2008.

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Media Contacts:

Kent Hurl

Public Relations

Vancouver Aquarium

604.659.3752

Dale Steeves

Communications Director

Office of the Premier

250.387.6605