November 25, 2003

Vancouver Aquarium & BC SPCA Joint Fundraiser: Conflict of Interest

Dear All,

It's hard to believe, but the Vancouver Aquarium and the BC SPCA are having a joint fundraiser at the aquarium on Friday night November 28 from 7pm to midnight.

500 uninformed people will pay $55 to dance to loud music in an aquarium where more than 20,000 animals are kept in tanks and cages, and where partiers are encouraged to smoke outside by the whale pool.

This is an obvious conflict of interest. The BC SPCA's own policy opposes the use of animals in entertainment. By having a joint fundraiser with the Vancouver Aquarium it appears to the public, and especially to the people who are attending the dance at the aquarium, that the BC SPCA is endorsing the aquarium's cruel practice of keeping marine mammals in captivity.

ACTION ALERT

Please phone or e-mail the BC SPCA before Friday November 28.

Tell them that you disapprove of the SPCA's endorsement of the Vancouver Aquarium and to please pull out of the fundraising event at the aquarium. It is shamefull that animal advocates are having to spend so much time and energy battling the SPCA who should be an ally to animal welfare.

BC SPCA President of the Board: Rick Sargent: roxiegirl@shaw.ca
Vice President : Marie Lou Troman: mltromam@ntouchcorp.com
Simon Trevelyan, Fundraising Department strevelyan@spca.bc.ca
or call them at 604-681-7271, you will probably get an answering machine.

cc the the fundraiser organizer
Cathy Michitsch cmichitsch@michitschsystems.com
Michitsch Systems Phone: 604-876-9204

cc the Vancouver Aquarium
John Nightingale nightij@vanaqua.org
Phone: 604-659-3441

Please phone or CC THE SPONSORS OF THE FUNDRAISER (SEE LIST BELOW).

Thanks for your help!

Kelly Bunting & Annelise Sorg
COALITION FOR NO WHALES IN CAPTIVITY

Aquarium/SPCA Fundraiser Sponsors:

Grouse Mountain info@grousemountain.com
Dr. Vincent Hartloper ENAMEL CLINIC reception@enamel.ca
Windsure at Jericho Sailing Club - Bernard LaBrosse windsure@telus.net
Pacific Skydivers dz@pacificskydivers.bc.ca
Rowands Reef bcdiver@rowandsreef.com
Vancouver Giants info@vancouvergiants.com
Ecomarine sales@ecomarine.com
Linda Burchell Realtor coldwellbanker@telus.net
Village Bouquet Floral Design villagebouquet@telus.net
Mission Hills Winery info@missionhillwinery.com
Vancouver Raven Lacross info@vancouverravens.com
Aquariums West aquariumswest@shaw.ca
Health First Fitness Training health@denmanfitness.com
Don Docksteader Motors infoline@dondocksteader.com
Purdy's Chocolates choclit@purdys.com
Family Services (604) 731-4951
Windsure Outdoor Adventure windsure@telus.net
Sewell's Marina info@sewellsmarina.com
Mark Anthony Cellars Ltd (604) 263-9994