Last year's total visitor numbers to Vancouver Aquarium and Marine Science Centre have blown previous records out of the water.
The attraction welcomed 1, 100, 000 guests in 2015, the highest number in its 59 year history.
To mark the occasion, lucky milestone visitors Richard and Paula Stabler and their daughters Olivia and Hannah, were greeted with a celebratory song and goodie pack including a year's free membership.
“We weren’t just surprised, we were shocked, ” commented Paula Stabler. “Everything you do here is wonderful, and we were very happy to get this surprise. The tour was incredible.”
The non-profit science centre relies on visitors to help fund its conservation, research and education programmes. These include the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre and the Coastal Ocean Research Institute which carries out significant research on coastal ecology, killer whale populations and the effects of ocean pollutants.
“Reaching this milestone is a fantastic way for us to wrap up 2015, ” reports Karen Howe, Director of Visitor Experience at the Vancouver Aquarium. “Our visitors make our conservation, research and education efforts possible. Each person that visits the Vancouver Aquarium is doing their part to protect and preserve our oceans for years to come.”