The event which got underway on Monday, is hosted by the North Coast Ecology Centre Society, as part of a collaboration with Ocean Wise Conservation Association, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Oceans Network Canada and the Port of Prince Rupert.
Karina Dracott one of the festival organizers highlights the expanded program that marks Year Number two for the event.
“We are excited to grow the festival this year and provide even more activities for our community to learn about the incredible whales we have in our marine backyard thanks to our sponsors. From an evening lecture with a scientist to a matinee movie screening for families, we hope to provide something that everyone can participate in.”
Monday brought families and friends together for the #Whalesofrupert Scavenger Hunt, which launched the hunt that will continue until May 12th. Participants take photos of the whales that are found around Prince Rupert with a range of great prizes available, including a whale watching tour with Prince Rupert Adventure Tours, learn more about that event here.
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| Activities are spread out around the city this week for the Second Annual North Coast Whale Festival |
While you wander the city collecting your snapshots of whales make plans for some of the other events planned for later in the week.
Thursday evening the Prince Rupert Library is hosting a free, public lecture at 7 PM By Dr. Ben Hendricks on "Sonic Superpowers: Listening into the World of Whales in the Great Bear Fjord System". This talk will allow the audience to dive into the underwater world of sound and learn about some of the amazing research done by UVic, the Gitga'at First Nation, North Coast Cetacean Society and WWF-Canada.
The North Coast Convention Centre will be the focus for the Whale Festival on Saturday with a full day of activities planned from 10 AM to 3 PM opened up by the Big Northern Lights Dancers (Wii Gisigwigwelk Dancers) activities for the young and old alike include interactive events, displays including skulls, crafts, face painting, Build a Whale and a number of prizes.
Saturday night, the scene shifts to the Wheelhouse Brewing Company, the event making for a fundraiser for the Ecology Centre Society, tickets include a bowl of sustainable, local seafood prepared by Fukasaku of Prince Rupert, with Great Bear Scallops donated by Coastal Shellfish and other seafood donated by Aero Trading. The beverage of choice for participant will be Wheelhouse "Killer Wit" beer with music on the night provided by the Dearly Departed. Tickets for the Saturday event can be purchased at Fukasaku and the Wheelhouse.
Sunday if film day for the festival, with an afternoon screening of Macgillvary Freeman's Humpback Whales documentary with showtime at 2 PM at the Prince Rupert Cineplex.
This year, the festival will also feature the “Build-a-whale” program from Strawberry Isle Marine Research in Tofino. This real, full-size killer whale skeleton acts as a giant puzzle and participants learn about natural history and conservation as they assemble the skeleton. Local Grade 6 classes will participate in the program on Thursday and Friday, and then the skeleton will be open to the public on Saturday.
Much of the expanded schedule for the week has been made possible thanks to community support from DP World, Port of Prince Rupert, Altagas, Pembina Pipeline Corporation, Ridley Terminals, Coastal Shellfish, Fukasaku of Prince Rupert, and Wheelhouse Brewing.
For a wider look at the events of the week see the North Coast Whale Festival website, Facebook page and Instagram feed
For more items of note related to Community Events on the North Coast see our archive page here.
To return to the most recent blog posting of the day, click here.
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