Philanthropy

Night at the Aquarium raises $360,000

By Felicity Stone /

Bert Hick and Christina Rowntree, NATA committee co-chairs; and John Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium president and CEO (photo by Dan Poh)
Bert Hick and Christina Rowntree, NATA committee co-chairs; and John Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium president and CEO (photo by Dan Poh)



NATA on the 360 screen in the Upper Teck Connections gallery
Bert Hick and Christina Rowntree, NATA committee co-chairs; and John Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium president and CEO (photo by Dan Poh)



Special guests gathered early at the VIP reception in the Lower Teck Connections gallery
Bert Hick and Christina Rowntree, NATA committee co-chairs; and John Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium president and CEO (photo by Dan Poh)



Raffle winners Troy Opper and Betty Luong, who won business class tickets on Air Canada to any destination in the world where the airline flies (photo by Dan Poh)
Bert Hick and Christina Rowntree, NATA committee co-chairs; and John Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium president and CEO (photo by Dan Poh)



John Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium president and CEO; his wife, Jacqueline Gjissen; and Derral Moriyama, BMO Financial Group senior VP business development and Vancouver Aquarium board member (photo by Dan Poh)
Bert Hick and Christina Rowntree, NATA committee co-chairs; and John Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium president and CEO (photo by Dan Poh)



Guests in the Pacific Canada gallery enjoy the aquatic-themed contortionists (photo by Dan Poh)
Bert Hick and Christina Rowntree, NATA committee co-chairs; and John Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium president and CEO (photo by Dan Poh)



Side One Band in the Ocean Courtyard (photo by Dan Poh)
Bert Hick and Christina Rowntree, NATA committee co-chairs; and John Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium president and CEO (photo by Dan Poh)



Ned Bell, Yew Seafood and Bar executive chef (photo by Dan Poh)
Bert Hick and Christina Rowntree, NATA committee co-chairs; and John Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium president and CEO (photo by Dan Poh)



Dungeness crab roll with wild smoked salmon from Araxi restaurant
Bert Hick and Christina Rowntree, NATA committee co-chairs; and John Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium president and CEO (photo by Dan Poh)



Guests received a complimentary Night at the Aquarium stemless wine glass to take home (photo by Dan Poh)
Bert Hick and Christina Rowntree, NATA committee co-chairs; and John Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium president and CEO (photo by Dan Poh)



The team from Boulevard Oyster & Kitchen Bar served up olive oil poached halibut
Bert Hick and Christina Rowntree, NATA committee co-chairs; and John Nightingale, Vancouver Aquarium president and CEO (photo by Dan Poh)


Ninth annual gala supports marine research, rescue and conservation

Oh, what a Night at the Aquarium. Last night the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre’s ninth annual fundraising gala raised more than $360,000. Proceeds from the event, presented by PCL Construction Group, will support the aquarium’s conservation, research and education programs, ranging from its Marine Mammal Rescue Centre to a project to disentangle sea lions along the B.C. coast who have been ensnared by marine debris.

“Night at the Aquarium is a truly magical night for everyone involved. It brings together members of the community, chef ambassadors of our Ocean Wise program and conservationists all united by their love for oceans and the conservation of aquatic life,” said Dr. John Nightingale, president and CEO at Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre. “Their support is what allows us to conduct world-class research, to rescue marine mammals in distress and to effect change by educating the next generation of ocean ambassadors.”

Fred Lee emceed the live auction. Items in the live and silent auctions included five nights at the Four Seasons Lanai at Manele Bay, Hawaii, four days at Langara Island Lodge in Haida Gwaii, Vancouver Aquarium Board of Directors’ Wine Cellar, complete with a full-sized wine fridge and 
20+ bottles of premium wines and a private dinner for eight with Boulevard Kitchen & Bar chef Alex Chen, hosted in the 
Aquarium’s Tropics Gallery.