The City of Surrey celebrated World Ocean Day on Sunday, June 8 at Blackie Spit Park with a free community event hosted in partnership with the Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society.
Local naturalists were on hand to lead guided nature walks, introducing participants to the diversity of the creatures that call Surrey's shorelines home. Marine “touch tanks” also allowed some up-close views of local sea-life.
The event featured live entertainment by GoGo Bonkers, the Wilds, and the finalists from the “Sing it Wild” youth song writing competition. There were games and activities for all ages, and interactive displays from over 30 community groups.
“A commitment to conservation is of paramount importance in Surrey,” said Surrey Mayor Dianne Watts. “Surrey is a city full of sensitive eco-systems including 15 kilometres of Pacific shoreline. Celebrating World Ocean Day is an opportunity to bring awareness to and educate about how to protect and respect our oceans.”
World Ocean Day is an internationally recognized day to celebrate and honour the world’s oceans: what they provide and represent to people, their role in the health of our planet, and their intrinsic value. The City of Surrey has been partnering with local not-for-profit group, the Friends of Semiahmoo Bay Society, to celebrate World Ocean Day at the seaside Blackie Spit Park since 2003. This year’s event marked Surrey’s 11th annual World Ocean Day community celebration, with plans to keep this an annual event for years to come.
Surrey’s World Ocean Day Celebration was the final event of the 17th annual Environmental Extravaganza, a seven-week series of free environmental events and programs taking place throughout Surrey between Earth Day and World Ocean Day.