Our Purpose
Collaboration, Learning, Empowerment
Ocean Week Victoria was launched in 2020 to foster connection and engagement within the community by providing a platform to support ocean-inspired events on southern Vancouver Island. We help facilitate and promote inclusive and accessible community events, no matter how large or how small, with a focus on education, conservation, and fun that inspires us all to take action!
We invite residents, businesses, Indigenous groups, scientists, educators, youth… everyone to get involved!
In past years, Victorians have enjoyed 3 main WOD events hosted by the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea (Sidney), World Fisheries Trust (on the Gorge Waterway) and Eagle Wing Tours with the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority (Fishermans Wharf).
We are thrilled to be connected to larger Canadian and International events like Ocean Week Canada, United Nations World Ocean Day, World Ocean Day (The Ocean Project), and Exploring by the Seat of your Pants. Check them out for more ocean activities!
We are excited to be celebrating a hybrid Ocean Week this year with ten days of virtual and in-person events!
Ocean Week Victoria Celebrates Our Big Blue Backyard
Our Big Blue Backyard
Young and older members of our community express how they feel connected to the ocean, what it means to them, and why we need to protect it.
Our Partners
Ocean Week Victoria is a collaboration among a variety of organizations in Greater Victoria. The planning committee is comprised of volunteers from the following partners:
History
1992
2020
1992 A team from Canada proposed the idea of an Oceans Day at the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, followed by the first Oceans Day event in Halifax
2008 In response to growing participation and petitions around the globe, the UN General Assembly designated June 8 as World Ocean Day
2020 Over 2000 events were held in 140 countries in 2019, and inspired by Oceans Week Halifax, the planning was started for a full week of activities. Ocean Week Victoria was born in 2020!
2002 The Ocean Project began globally promoting World Ocean Day and launched the worldoceansday.org website to support event organizers; 25 events held in 15 countries
2011 World Ocean Day events started in Greater Victoria (possibly earlier!)