IMPORTANT VOTE
please go to the 24 Hours newspaper website
http://www.vancouver.24hrs.ca/
On the right there's a poll asking if you think the aquarium's survey and consultation results are accurate.
Vote NO, of course.
I know I'm always asking you to write letters to the editor, but this time, it is incredibly important that you do, and that you send a copy of your letter to the Vancouver Park Board.
Just a couple of comments on the survey:
1. In 50 years of existence, NEVER has stranded whale or dolphin found in our shores, been brought to the aquarium in Stanley Park for rescue and rehabilitation.
2. The aquarium's consultation process was boycotted by all animal welfare groups in Vancouver and abroad, hence the results.
3. In May 2006, the Park Board commissioners rescinded the motions already adopted by former boards, to send the issue of aquarium expansion and whales in captivity to a civic referendum vote.
Following all the articles in today's news is Kelly Bunting's letter to the Vancouver Sun and the Park Board commissioners. I hope it inspires you to write. There's many other letters in our website NO WHALES IN CAPTIVITY www.nowhalesincaptivity.org
One letter to the editor can be sent SEPARATELY to each media outlet.
24 Hours news@24hrs.ca
City TV: vannews@citytv.com
CKNW News: nwnews@cknw.com
Globe and Mail: Letters@GlobeAndMail.ca
Letters, Vancouver Sun sunletters@png.canwest.com
Province Editor: provletters@png.canwest.com
Thank you!
Annelise Sorg annelise@direct.ca
NO WHALES IN CAPTIVITY
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Vancouver Sun - Wednesday, November 08, 2006
A new poll commissioned by the Vancouver Aquarium found that 85 per cent of the Greater Vancouver residents surveyed support an aquarium expansion in Stanley Park.
The Synovate poll, a random telephone survey of more than 600 adult residents, was made public today.
The poll found that Vancouver residents were less enthusiastic about a larger aquarium, but a 73 per cent majority of those adults still backed an expansion.
The aquarium, which is already the largest in Canada, is seeking the Vancouver park board's okay for an expansion plan that would increase its area by 50 per cent.
The aquarium wants to build larger pools for dolphins, sea lions, seals, sea otters and beluga whales.
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24 Hours 9 November 2006
Aquarium opponents question study
By ROBYN STUBBS, 24 HOURS
The numbers look impressive, but is Vancouver really in favour of a bigger fish tank?
According to survey and consultation results released yesterday by the Vancouver Aquarium, 89 per cent of the public supports the aquarium's plans to expand one-and-a-half kilometres into Stanley Park.
Not everyone, however, is pleased with the results.
Through a referendum in 1990, Vancouverites voted to close down the Stanley Park Zoo, reflecting the city's sentiment towards animals in captivity, said COPE Coun. David Cadman yesterday.
"Now, it seems there's an initiative to expand an aquatic zoo onto that very same footprint, without the commitment of a public referendum. If we're going to consider it, we have to consider it in the context of a public vote on the 2008 ballot."
And, Vision Vancouver Coun. Heather Deal said she's had "major issues" with the transparency of the Vancouver Aquarium for the last few years, and questioned the openness of the expansion plans with the public.
Her concern, she said, stems from the aquarium's plans to expand their research areas, which include a non-profit but "very active, private-breeding program" for the purpose of trading dolphins with other aquariums.
"I believe the public needs to able to make the decision about whether or not they want to expand the aquarium into the public realm for uses that are not for public consumption," said Deal, who is also a former COPE parks board commissioner.
"It's not a question of being pro- or anti-aquarium, it's about what is an appropriate use of public space."
Coalition for No Whales in Captivity spokeswoman Annelise Sorg told 24 hours a civic referendum on whether or not the aquarium should continue to bring in whales and dolphins is the only way to find out about how Vancouverites feel on the issue.
"All the animal welfare organizations boycotted the consultations because it was really just a farce and another PR campaign. The whole thing just smells fishy," said Sorg.
A decision on the aquarium's future footprint is expected from the parks board at a public meeting Nov. 27.
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Globe and Mail Nov Thur 9,06
A whale of support for aquarium expansion
Poll shows backing is strong for creation of bigger, deeper pools for sea life
VANCOUVER -- When John Nightingale went looking for a measure of public opinion on his dream to expand the Vancouver Aquarium, he was hoping for good news.
He got it yesterday with the release of a poll and other data that show overwhelming support for a proposal that would see the popular Stanley Park facility expand and turn existing green space into bigger and deeper pools for whales, dolphins and other creatures.
"I'm very pleased," Mr. Nightingale, executive director of the Vancouver Aquarium, said shortly after the data was released. "I expected positive support, but the results are stronger than I'd hoped."
The Synovate poll, based on interviews with 600 Greater Vancouver Regional District residents (including 300 in the city), shows that 85 per cent of respondents moderately or strongly support a proposal to expand Canada's largest aquarium, which draws 900,000 visitors a year. Only 14 per cent were strongly or moderately opposed to expansion plans.
"Not only do residents from other parts of the GVRD express greater overall support for the proposal in general, they express as high, if not higher, support and/or agreement for most of the specific elements of the aquarium revitalization and expansion program," stated Synovate, a Vancouver market research firm.
The poll found that more than 90 per cent agree the aquarium should be allowed to bring in a new whale or dolphin from another facility for rehabilitation, with the intention of safely releasing it back into the wild. And 75 per cent agreed that the aquarium should be allowed to bring in a new whale or dolphin "if it was injured or otherwise in distress at any time in the past and requires permanent human care to survive."
Mr. Nightingale said those responses show the Vancouver Aquarium's current policies regarding whales and dolphins, which were adopted in 1996 and prohibit taking any animals from the wild, have strong public support.
The larger pools that are proposed for the new facility would provide space for up to eight whales and eight dolphins. The plan also includes medical and maternity facilities for the new animals.
The Vancouver Aquarium currently has about 3,000 species of fish, four Pacific white-sided dolphins (two of which were rescued from fishing nets) and four beluga whales.
The aquarium has 166 aquatic displays in six major galleries that include the Wild Coast, displaying Pacific species, and the Tropic Zone, where sharks and tropical fish are exhibited.
The poll, and a series of public consultations, also got feedback on detailed aspects of the proposed new facility, covering everything to the types of seating around the main viewing pools, to food services and the design of the building's new exterior.
Mr. Nightingale, who will take the survey data and results from open houses, stakeholder meetings and focus groups to Vancouver's Parks Board later this month, said the opinion survey also alerted the aquarium to some concerns held by the public.
"They want us to be careful about how we go forward. We hear that concern about Stanley Park . . . and we're concerned too," Mr. Nightingale said.
He said if the expansion plans are approved, construction would start next spring, with an aim to be completed before the 2010 Olympic Games.
"If things went smoothly, we'd be finished in late summer or fall of 2009," Mr. Nightingale said.
But the project is likely to run into at least some turbulence, as opponents of the plan continue to object to any expansion.
The Lifeforce Foundation, a Vancouver-based environmental organization that has campaigned in the past against whales in captivity, was quick off the mark yesterday, issuing a statement under the heading: "Just say no! Let Stanley Park be!"
Lifeforce Foundation spokesman, Peter Hamilton, said his group will attend the Parks Board hearing later this month to oppose the plan.
"The recent aquarium report continues to hide the dark side of the aquarium-zoo industry that exploits and imprisons wildlife," he said. "The Vancouver Aquarium has a 50-year history of sadness and death."
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The Province
Published: Thursday, November 09, 2006
Expansion plans create big splash
Poll results go to parks board but opponents want public referendum
Visitors to the Vancouver Aquarium yesterday take in the beluga whales. The aquarium is planning an $80-million revitalization and expansion.
Stuart Hunter, The Province
Published: Thursday, November 09, 2006
A new poll suggests Vancouverites are overwhelmingly in favour of aquarium expansion -- but animal-rights activists say the results are fishy.
A $300,000 study, released yesterday, said 89 per cent of the 3,300 people polled were in favour of the Vancouver Aquarium's proposed $80-million revitalization and expansion.
"I'm pleasantly surprised," said aquarium president John Nightingale. "I expected a positive response -- that's what we hear in the community -- but I didn't expect this positive a response."
The poll also revealed 80-per-cent support for using additional park space for expansion and a near-split on the design's facade, with 51 per cent preferring a "green" facade over a contemporary one.
The public was also asked five questions about keeping whales and dolphins in captivity. Some 77 per cent of respondents agreed the aquarium should be allowed to bring in new animals, if they are in distress, with the intention of safely returning them to the wild.
And 73 per cent agreed that, if they require permanent human care to survive, new whales and dolphins could be brought in with no intention of them returning to the wild.
"It has been 10 years since the aquarium said it won't catch wild whales and dolphins and the public response was clearly these rules are great and appropriate," Nightingale said.
"The last orca left in 2001 and I can't imagine any circumstances under which you'd see an orca return."
The poll results will be presented to the parks board, which will vote on the development permit proposal on Nov. 27.
"I wasn't surprised," said board vice-chairman Ian Robertson. "I have spoken to many, many, many people over the last few months and the actual results mirrored exactly what I had been picking up.
"It'll be a tough call but I will be supporting the expansion moving ahead personally."
Annelise Sorg, director of the Coalition For No Whales In Captivity, called the poll results "a farce," adding the questions were "loaded and misleading.
"This is all incredibly fishy," said Sorg. "We want to see the issue sent to a public referendum where Vancouverites can be asked if they want more whale pools."
Added Lifeforce's Peter Hamilton: "Captivity creates a false sense of security and slick aquarium propaganda can brainwash people into thinking that the animals are not suffering."
COPE city councillors on the NPA-dominated council have said they favour a referendum on the expansion, but Nightingale said he's against one because "it divides the community."
Visitors at the aquarium yesterday seemed in favour of expansion.
"The new exhibit is really neat but some exhibits could use some upgrading," said Christine Green of Clearwater. "We won't have to pay for expansion so it's fine with us."
Tourist Juliana Rosa, 16, of San Paolo, Brazil, said: "Why not? It already has lots of interesting things and the bigger the better."
Said Burnaby's Ashley Sutherland, 22: "I do think it is a good idea. I think it will put it on a higher scale and get it known more internationally."
The expansion completion deadline is the fall of 2009.
shunter@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Province 2006
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Expand aquarium, poll says
Survey of more than 600 residents finds at least 70 per cent support for new whales and dolphins
The aquarium would like to exhibit more whales and dolphins -- such as dolphin Laverne shown here Wednesday working with trainer Leonora Marquez -- because it is more natural for those marine mammal species to live in larger family groups, officials say.
Glenn Bohn, Vancouver Sun
Published: Thursday, November 09, 2006
VANCOUVER - A poll commissioned by the Vancouver Aquarium concludes that a large majority of Greater Vancouver residents believe the aquarium should be allowed to bring in more whales and dolphins -- if those marine mammals were born in captivity, recently injured or threatened with extinction.
The Synovate poll -- a random telephone survey of more than 600 adults -- concluded there is at least 70 per cent support for new acquisitions of whales and dolphins.
The same professional polling firm reported at least 85 per cent of the Greater Vancouver residents surveyed support an aquarium expansion in Stanley Park.
The poll found that Vancouver residents were less enthusiastic about a larger aquarium, but a 73-per-cent majority told pollsters they backed an expansion.
Aquarium president John Nightingale said Wednesday that's "amazingly strong support" for the aquarium's proposed expansion.
Nightingale said the aquarium would like to exhibit more whales and dolphins, because he said it is more natural for those marine mammal species to live in larger family groups. Nightingale said a family group of eight is ideal.
"We've said all along that a family group of eight belugas and eight dolphins -- plus or minus -- is the right number," he said during a meeting with The Vancouver Sun's editorial board.
Currently, the aquarium owns six beluga whales. Four are exhibited at the Vancouver Aquarium; the other two live at facilities in the U.S.
"Well, six and a couple of babies and you're at eight," Nightingale said.
However, he suggested the addition of more whales or dolphins is an issue that's "independent" of the aquarium's expansion plans.
"We want groups of eight, regardless of whether we have a new facility or our current facility," he said. "It's independent of the construction of the new facility. The reason why the new facilities are bigger is that Vancouver is generally recognized as a leader in marine mammal care."
Annelise Sorg, a director of the 1,000-member Coalition for No Whales in Captivity, challenged the park board to put the issue to a referendum.
"The question that should be asked, and hasn't been asked, is do you want the aquarium to build larger whale and dolphin pools so they can bring in more whales and dolphins," she said. "There's no doubt, in my mind, and I think the aquarium's mind, that the public would say no. Otherwise, why would the aquarium be so afraid of going to a referendum?"
The poll questions about adding more marine mammals were a small part of a public consultation report made public Wednesday when the report went to the Board of Parks and Recreation.
If the Non-Partisan Association-majority board gives approval later this month, Canada's largest aquarium hopes to begin construction work on its $80-million expansion in Stanley Park next spring. The aquarium's footprint in Stanley Park would grow by about 50 per cent. The aquarium, which now covers 1.2 hectares or 2.9 acres of park land, would encompass 1.8 hectares or 4.4 acres of park land.
According to the aquarium's report to the park board, 32 trees would be removed for the expansion. The report states the expansion will allow the aquarium to build larger pools for dolphins, sea lions, seals, sea otters and beluga whales.
Nightingale said poll questions about acquiring additional whales and dolphins were added at the request of the park board.
He noted that, after a series of public hearings, the aquarium proposed in 1996 that it would no longer catch wild dolphins or whales but would still be able to acquire whales and dolphins that were born in captivity, were a member of endangered species and part of a research or captive breeding program. That promise is now written into the aquarium's lease or legal agreement with the park board.
Ten years have now passed, Nightingale said, and the park board decided the poll should measure whether the public believes those guidelines are still guidelines are still correct. He said the board also wanted to "clear up some confusion" about whether stranded animals could be acquired.
gbohn@png.canwest.com
© The Vancouver Sun 2006
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LETTER FROM KELLY BUNTING TO THE VANCOUVER SUN AND THE PARK BOARD
What a surprise, the consultation firm paid $300,000 by the Vancouver Aquarium found that 85% of Vancouver residents support anything the Vancouver Aquarium wants. The media failed to remind the public that animal welfare organizations in Vancouver boycotted the consultation because of its obvious bias, and asked members of the public who were against expansion to boycott the Aquarium’s public relations campaign.
The consultation process found that the public supposedly supports giving away public land in Stanley Park to a private enterprise. If the park board allows the expansion, the public would have to pay admission to the Aquarium to gain access to park land that was previously open for all to use. The consultation process also found that the public is happy to build more pools for the aquarium to bring in more animals, even though we previously voted to have the zoo removed from Stanley Park. We are supposedly OK with a water based zoo.
According to the consultation firm hired by the Aquarium, we are also OK with giving the aquarium $80 million dollars in federal and provincial tax dollars to pay for this zoo. Strange that we have $80 million dollars available to house fish, but we don’t have any money for public housing in Vancouver.
Seriously, Vancouver residents do not want to give away millions of dollars worth of public park land to the Vancouver Aquarium. We know this because of a “real” public consultation done by the BC Wildlife Federation. They did the most comprehensive public consultation exercise ever carried out in this province called the “BC Parks Legacy Project 1998-1999”. In 18 months and 154 open houses they found that “the biggest fear everyone had was the BC parks would be commercialized.” As a result, the BC Wildlife Federation’s guiding principle is “protected areas are to be maintained in perpetuity as public lands. As an inalienable public good, these areas must not be sold, commercialized, or privatized.” Vancouver residents want to protect Stanley Park for public enjoyment, not give it away to the Vancouver Aquarium so that they can sell more admission tickets.
If the Aquarium wants to prove that their consultation process is legitimate, then they should be happy to have a public referendum asking the residents of Vancouver if they want to have more whales and dolphins brought into Stanley Park. Each time the Park Board Commissioners are asked by the public to have such a referendum the aquarium strongly opposes it. The aquariums intention is to have at least 7 dolphins and to have a dolphin and whale breeding program. That is why they want bigger pools. They know that the Vancouver public is against cruelly confining these highly intelligent mammals.
I can’t imagine that there is any way that the park board commissioners will accept the results of the aquarium’s so called public consultation process. This public relations campaign misinformed the public and is a highly inaccurate account of public opinion in Vancouver.
Sincerely,
Kelly Bunting