Our Purpose
Collaboration, Learning, Empowerment
Ocean Week Victoria was launched in 2020 to connect and engage our 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!
There is room for everyone ... residents, businesses, Indigenous groups, scientists, educators, and youth to get involved!
Ocean festivals on the Sidney waterfront and at Fishermans Wharf provide a beginning and end to 10 days of in-person and virtual events and activities, which grow in number and variety each year. Do you have an idea that will educate, inspire, and empower people to become the best ocean steward they can?
We are thrilled to be connected to larger Canadian and International events including 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 fun and ideas!
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
2023
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!)
2020-2021 The Covid-19 pandemic meant a switch to virtual events, do-at-home activities and collaboration with the new Ocean Week Canada online initiative
2022 Join the Wave event planning sessions were launched and Ocean Week Victoria featured 24 registered events by 20 host organizations!
2023 Ocean Week Victoria June 2nd-11th!