Ocean Wise(TM) Canstruction Inukshuk, revealed!

Unique design sculpture benefits food bank while celebrating Vancouver's Olympic emblem and the culture of Canada's Arctic

VANCOUVER , Feb. 5 /CNW/ - Today the Vancouver Aquarium revealed an enormous Inukshuk sculpture made entirely of cans of Ocean Wise recommended seafood in a display of Olympic spirit. Created by an Aquarium design team, the Ocean Wise Canstruction project will be available for viewing from now through the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The seafood was generously donated by Raincoast Trading. Following the exhibit the canned fish will be donated to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

"You can tell our team and partners had a lot of fun creating this amazing spectacle to share with locals and visitors during the Games," said Aquarium president, Dr. John Nightingale . "We are able to show our Olympic spirit and support the Food Bank, while showcasing the importance of choosing sustainable seafood. Overfishing is the number one problem facing the world's oceans today. Ocean Wise makes it easy for Canadians to play an active role in conserving them now and for future generations."

The canned seafood was supplied by Raincoast Trading, the first retail product to have the Ocean Wise recommended logo on their labels. Mike Wick , owner, commented, "Raincoast is delighted to be part of this unique initiative. If we can help a good cause while letting consumers know how easy it is now to make sustainable seafood choices when shopping, then we've accomplished two really important things with this terrific project."

The Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society acknowledges that this contribution to their ongoing efforts to feed the hungry is not only fun, but needed. "We haven't stopped talking about this since we first heard about it!" says Doug Aason, Director of Community Investment. "To see these community leaders come together to support us is just amazing! We thank the Vancouver Aquarium and Raincoast Trading for supporting us through this display of Olympic spirit."

The Ocean Wise Canstruction Inukshuk will remain on public display during the Olympic Winter Games from today through February 28th . Vancouver Aquarium visitors will find it on the outdoor beluga habitat at the entrance to the Canada's Arctic exhibit.

It took many hands and a lot of cans to build the Ocean Wise Canstruction Inukshuk. So many cans, in fact, that the Aquarium is giving the public the chance to guess the total number used in the "CAN You Guess?" contest open now through February 13 . The winner will receive two tickets to an Olympic speed skating event at the Richmond Oval courtesy of BC Hydro. Anyone can enter the contest by dropping off the ballot in person at the Vancouver Aquarium or online at www.visitvanaqua.org.

About the Vancouver Aquarium

The Vancouver Aquarium is a global leader in connecting people to our natural world, and a self-supporting, non-profit association dedicated to effecting the conservation of aquatic life through display and interpretation, conservation practices, education, research, and direct action. Learn more at www.vanaqua.org.

/NOTE TO PHOTO EDITORS: A photo accompanying this release is available at http://photos.newswire.ca. Images are free to accredited members of the media/

For further information: Media Contacts: Kent Hurl, Public Relations Supervisor, [phone], [email protected]; Helen Lee, Public Relations Coordinator, [phone], [email protected]