Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre, Public aquarium in Sidney, Canada
The Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is a public aquarium in Sidney, British Columbia, displaying hundreds of marine species from the Salish Sea. The exhibition features octopuses, wolf eels, salmon, and many other creatures in specialized tanks throughout the facility.
The centre opened in 2009 as part of the Sidney Pier development, succeeding the earlier Marine Mammal Museum and Marine Ecology Centre. This merger brought together different marine education initiatives under one roof.
The centre sits on W̱SÁNEĆ territory and features the marine ecosystems that Coast Salish peoples have cared for over many generations. Visitors can see how this deep connection to the sea shapes the exhibitions and learning programs.
The facility offers multiple touch pools where visitors can interact with sea urchins and starfish under staff guidance. Located about 25 minutes north of Victoria, the centre is easily accessible for day trips.
The centre displays a 60-centimetre female hybrid porpoise found on Southern Vancouver Island, an unusual combination of Harbor and Dall species. This rare specimen offers insight into the genetic diversity of marine mammals in the region.
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