World Oceans Week is a celebration of ocean events, learning, and engagement held during the week of World Oceans Day (June 8). Through these activities and events we strengthen our understanding and our bond with our great blue backyard.

In 2025, Ocean Week Canada is taking place from June 1 to 8.

What’s happening in Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound this week to celebrate? Check out the links below!

Ocean Week events around Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound

Sunshine Coast Ocean Festival

June 1-8

The Sunshine Coast Conservation Association is hosting several events throughout the week, both in-person and virtually.

Events calendar: www.sunshinecoastoceanfestival.ca/events

Turtle Walker

June 1 at 7pm, Sunshine Coast Arts Centre

https://sunshinecoastoceanfestival.ca/turtle-walker 

Chasing Coral

June 4 at 7pm, Sechelt Arts Centre

https://sunshinecoastoceanfestival.ca/chasing-coral

NEMO talks 

June 2 – 6, online

www.sunshinecoastoceanfestival.ca/nemo-talks

World Oceans Day Celebration

Sunday June 8 from 12 – 4pm, Mission Point Park, Sechelt

https://sunshinecoastoceanfestival.ca/world-oceans-day-celebration 

World Oceans Day – Squamish Shoreline Cleanup

June 8, from 9 – 11am, Squamish

Let’s celebrate World Oceans Day together by caring for our local shorelines. We will be removing garbage and invasive species from the trails and parking lot bordering the Mamquam Blind Channel in Squamish.

Gloves, bags, and tools will be provided, and there will also be some light snacks and coffee.

Please wear closed-toe shoes and dress for the weather – the event will happen rain or shine!

Co-hosted by the Átl’ḵa7tsem / Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative, Squamish River Watershed Society, and Sea to Sky Invasive Species Council.

See the Facebook event page for details.

Hops for Habitat

June 5, from 5 -8 pm, Squamish

Celebrate wild salmon this week with Pacific Salmon Foundation and The Nature Trust of British Columbia at their Hops for Habitat event in Squamish. The goal of this event is to celebrate the tremendous impact the Squamish community has had on local salmon and habitat conservation initiatives.

https://psf.ca/events/join-us-at-hops-for-habitat-in-squamish

Marine Invertebrates Live Lab

June 2, from 12:30-1:30pm, virtual

Learn about some of the weird and wonderful marine invertebrates found in Barkley Sound! In this online lab staff from the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre will take you on a tour of the animals in our aquariums here at the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre, to showcase the amazing diversity of marine life found in the Pacific Northwest.

Sign up for the webinar here.

Virtual World Oceans Day Programs

June 6, virtual

Join OceanWise for virtual World Ocean Day programs! Dive into the magic of the ocean with this fun and educational event. Hosted by Ocean Wise, GreenLearning, and TakingITGlobal, this free celebration on June 6th will ignite young minds with the wonders of marine life and ocean conservation.

To register for the elementary program (ages 6-12 at 9am), click here.

To register for the secondary program (ages 13-18 at 10am), click here.

Search for Slhawt’ (Herring) NEMO Talk

June 5, from 12 – 1pm, virtual

The Átl’ka7tsem / Howe Sound Marine Stewardship Initiative (MSI) has partnered with the Squamish Nation annually since 2021 for the Searching for Slhawt’ / Herring Spawn Survey Program, wherein we document where and when herring are spawning in the region. This program takes a two-eyed seeing approach and is based in community-science; we have dozens of volunteers who help us search for slhawt each year. During this presentation, MSI’s Project Director, Ellika Cairns, will share about the importance of herring here in Átl’ka7tsem, program results, and how you can get involved.

https://sunshinecoastoceanfestival.ca/search-for-slhawt-herring

Tide Pools Aquarium – Free Entry 

June 8, from 10am – 4pm, Gibsons

Visit the Tide Pools Aquarium for free on World Oceans Day and take a look into the underwater world. They will also be hosting a workshop focused on local community-science initiatives such as European green crab surveys and Dungeness crab light trapping.

https://tidepoolsaquarium.org/programs-events

World Ocean Day Vancouver 2025

June 8, from 10am-2pm, Stanley Park

Join Ocean Wise, the Vancouver Aquarium, Stanley Park Ecology Society and Water Rangers for a World Ocean Day celebration! There will be a shoreline cleanup, BioBlitz, and water quality testing demonstration.

Learn more about the event here:

https://ocean.org/event/world-ocean-day-vancouver-2025