About Us
The Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is an aquarium and marine education centre focused on the amazing ecosystem of the Salish Sea.
The Centre operates as a not-for-profit community facility that is self supporting through admission fees, grants and donations. The Ocean Discovery Centre is governed, funded and owned by the New Marine Centre Society. The Society is a BC Society and Canada Revenue Agency registered charity.
The Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is located in a spectacular waterfront building in Sidney, BC. The space the Centre is housed in is owned by the Town of Sidney thanks to an agreement with the developer of the Sidney Pier building. The Centre has a 20-year lease with the Town of Sidney for the nominal fee of $5.
Planning for the development of the Ocean Discovery Centre began in 2005. The $5 Million Discover Your Ocean Campaign was launched in September of 2006. The campaign was completed on April 20, 2009. Major donations included $1.5 Million from the Shaw Charitable Donations Committee. A Canada/BC Infrastructure Grant in the amount of $2 Million was an important funding component. We are very grateful to all of our supporters who contributed a further $1.5 Million in private donations to reach the campaign goal and build the Centre.
The centre opened to the public on June 20, 2009.
Click here to see the how the project progressed to be what it is today.
The centre is governed by a volunteer Board and administered by Angus Matthews, Executive Director.
