Aquarium facility slated to open in Halifax this fall

The Beaty Centre for Marine Diversity is set to open in 2025. (Source: Dalhousie University)

Sharks, whales, and all sorts of creatures of the deep lurk in the waves on the doorstep of Halifax, but unless someone has access to scuba gear, underwater cameras or a submarine, they’re unlikely to see many of the aquatic animals up close.

That could all change this fall with the launch of a long-awaited aquarium facility in Nova Scotia’s capital city.

“We have the largest concentrations of ocean scientists per capita here,” said Dov Bercovici, president and CEO of the Discovery Centre. “This is going to be really meaningful to the public.”

The Beaty Centre for Marine Diversity is a joint venture with Discovery Centre International and Dalhousie University to create a space for the public to learn about and interact with underwater ecosystems. It will occupy the Steele Sciences Building near Oxford Street in Halifax.

“We’ll interpret the work done by scientists,” Bercovici said. “The people of Halifax have been looking for an aquarium for a long time.

“The public will learn about our ecosystems and the human impact of climate change. We give people an overview of the ocean systems.”

The project, which was first announced in May 2023, has raised more than $10 million in capital investment – $8.2 million of which came from conservationist Ross Beaty.

“He loved the pitch of what we’re doing with this facility,” Bercovici said.

Bercovici said the completed 8,000 square foot facility will have a blue whale skeleton, three large tanks – deep sea, rocky reef and seagrass meadow – and more than 25 live animals from a cross-section of species.

“We’re not starting from scratch,” he said. “Dalhousie already has life support systems for these creatures.”

In a presentation to the Halifax Community Planning and Economic Development Standing Committee last week, the Discovery Centre projected it would install an exhibit in the first quarter of 2025 and install the aquaria in the second quarter.

It is targeting a grand opening in the third quarter (fall), although an exact date is yet to be determined.

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