The Vancouver Aquarium sure knows how to throw a party, and this year, their signature event, Night at the Aquarium, will have a very Canadian theme.

Our country is turning 150 year young in July, and on Thursday, June 15, foodies, wine lovers, and ocean ambassadors alike will celebrate Canada and its incredible coastlines at this award-winning gala fundraiser that supports the Vancouver Aquarium’s many conservation, research, and education programs. Setting the scene for a magical evening, the Aquarium galleries will become an enchanting underwater world – perfect for learning about marine conservation while marveling at the stunning colours in the Treasures of the B.C. Coast or the majesty of the sea lions.

“This year is a particularly special year for Night at the Aquarium as we celebrate a momentous milestone for our country. It will truly be a once-in-a-lifetime celebration and one that will bring together so many of our longstanding friends, supporters, and partners for a night to remember in support of ocean conservation,” said Dr. John Nightingale, president and CEO, Vancouver Aquarium.

Night at the Aquarium begins with a champagne reception, featuring cocktails and canapés crafted by local Ocean Wise®

certified restaurants. Once your appetite has been tantalized enough, the festivites will continue with an exquisite four-course seated dinner with dishes by some of B.C.’s premier chefs: Ocean Wise® Executive Chef Ned Bell, Araxi Restaurant’s James Walt, Blue Water Cafe’s Frank Pabst, and The Fish Counter’s Rob Clark. Delectable wines from Kim Crawford, Sage Hills, and Meiomi, thirst-quenching beer from Red Truck Beer Co., and savoury Ocean Wise® caesars from Walter Caesar will complement the menu.

In addition to dynamic live music, guests can expect an impressive silent auction and a raffle for tickets for two to anywhere in the world that Air Canada flies. A much-anticipated and exhilarating live auction will keep guests on the edge of their seat as fantastic prizes – including a 13-day Northwest Passage and Greenland adventure from One Ocean Expeditions and a romantic four-night stay in an over water bungalow at the Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora – go to the highest bidder.

In 2016, Night at the Aquarium raised more than $460,000, which directly supported the Aquarium’s many conservation programs, including Ocean Wise, Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup, the Coastal Ocean Research Institute, and the Marine Mammal Rescue Centre, the only one of its kind in Canada. The event was recently recognized at the Canadian Special Event Industry Awards for Best Event Produced for a Community-Based Charitable Organization.

Tickets for Night at the Aquarium cost $350 and can be purchased at www.vanaqua.org/nata.