Page 2 Huntsman Marine Science Centre town of st. andrews huntsman cmyk.indd 1 11/30/2011 3:19:34 PM Huntsman Marine Science Centre Page 3 The Huntsman Marine Science Centre The Huntsman Marine Science Centre, located in St. Andrews, is a not-for-profit facility that opened in 1969. In 1972, a public aquarium was added, and this small building lasted until 2010, when it was torn down to make way for the Fundy Discovery Aquarium, which opened to the public on September 1, 2011. The Huntsman, however, is more than just an aquar- ium. At its core is education and research. Schools, universities and other groups can visit and study for the day, or stay on the upper campus, with accommodation available for up to 100 people. Food is also prepared on campus, and the lower campus, where the aquarium is situated, also houses a number of labs for the students to utilize. Students take many field trips, and often study on board the Huntsman’s research vessel, the Fundy The Atlantic Reference Centre’s Dr. Gerhad Pohle. Spray, which is also used frequently by industry part- ners for a variety of research projects in the Bay of try partners for their own marine-related research. Fundy. The Atlantic Reference Centre (ARC) is also a part The Huntsman’s education department partners with of the Huntsman, and is a collaboration with the St. School District 10 for the Grade 6 Ocean Discovery pro- Andrews Biological Station. There, a museum of gram, which forms a part of the school curriculum. North Atlantic species is kept, and staff members Each summer, the Huntsman runs programs for stu- there carry out many studies, including species iden- dents, adults and teachers. tification for different partners from the private and Also on the lower campus are a mixture of research public sectors. The ARC was also involved in the labs and buildings, some of which house Huntsman 10-year-long worldwide Census of Marine Life project projects, with others being rented out to other indus- that ended last year. Page 4 Huntsman Marine Science Centre The aquarium - a year of big changes The new, $8-million aquarium took around a year to build. It was determined that the Huntsman needed to grow, and a new aquarium was required. The aquarium is a part of a $20 million renewal project that has seen upgrades to buildings, a new water system, a research vessel, research facilities and other improvements made to the entire campus. The governments of Canada and New Brunswick each contributed $2.5 million for the aquarium portion of the project, which meant that the Huntsman had to raise the remaining $3 million itself. While fund-raising efforts are still ongoing, many foundations, businesses and individuals contributed to the successful opening of the new building. Local and regional businesses were heavily involved in the construction process, while some specific expertise on aquarium construction needed to be sought further afield. The building was designed by Comeau MacKenzie Architecture, with renowned aquarium designer Bobby Poole overseeing the aquarium content of the building. Poole had previously worked on aquariums in New England, Virginia, Baltimore, Alaska, Japan and many others. The Canadian climate provided some challenges, as construction took place in all weathers in order to open in summer 2011 with- out missing a tourist season. And on September 1, it did open, The two-storey tidal tank is so large it had to be lowered into place with one of the busiest weekends on record as members of the before the roof was put on the new building. public flocked to St. Andrews to see the results. Huntsman Marine Science Centre Page 5 Huntsman aids economic engine The ocean is a key economic driver for the Province of New Brunswick. With over 5,500 kilometres of coastline, it generates in excess of $1 billion in annual revenues from sectors such fisher- ies, farming (aquaculture), and transportation . The Bay is a truly spectacular resource, and 41 per cent of the visitors to the Fundy Region report that the natural scenery was the factor most en- joyed during their visit. Simply put, with over 50 million people living within a day’s drive from St. Andrews, there is an enormous audience for New Brunswick’s ocean biodiversity story. The Huntsman (huntsmanmarine.ca) is a registered, private, not- for-profit, research and science-based teaching institution located in Saint Andrews, New Brunswick. It was established in 1969 by a consortium of universities, government departments and pri- vate sector interests and has been an active steward of the ocean resource by finding ways to educate Canadians about the oceans for the past 40 years. An aerial view of the new Fundy Discovery Aquarium. The education programs of the Huntsman have been pioneering; knowledge-based activities that have influenced the develop- Aquarium provides public access to the activities of Huntsman ment of highly qualified personnel in the marine sciences and the and represents a transformational event in the life of the organiza- oceans industry sector of the Canadian economy. The school pro- tion. grams have welcomed more than 35,000 students —ranging from The new fixed assets have created a concurrent sense of renewed elementary school age to university graduate level. For many, it is capacity which in turn has led to bold initiatives in the mission of their first introduction to the Canadian Atlantic region. Education, Research and Innovation. The Huntsman is now in a The Huntsman has also welcomed more than 700,000 members of position to take full advantage of the opportunities and challenges the general public through the operation of its aquarium facility, that lay ahead with the ocean agenda. We have begun a new informing visitors to the region about Canada’s east coast marine strategic planning exercise designed to identify where these new ecology and marine based economy. The new Fundy Discovery paths will take the organization. Page 6 Huntsman Marine Science Centre While some of the rock work at the new aquarium is real, other portions of the habitat were specially created, such as the Bay of Fundy Fishes tank, left. Some was created by a specialty company in California, while other tank interiors were crafted locally by John Anderson. Huntsman Marine Science Centre Page 7 Seals, screens and sweatshirts Loki was born at the old aquarium in 1993, and his son, Snor- kel, was born in London, Ontario, in 2006. Both returned to the Huntsman three years ago after the passing of the popular Buddy and Chelsea. The seals are trained, and fed at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily. The show can be viewed from one of two decks, or from inside, as speakers convey the trainers’ informational talk. The balcony has a spectacular view of the St. Croix River and into Maine. The seals are also visible from the lower gallery, and love to in- teract with visitors. On this level are several DFO exhibits, touch screens, movies and, of course, tanks. Always popular is the collection of rare lobsters. With two 22 lb. crustaceans (Big Dee-Dee and Tiny), a yellow lobster (Fiona), blue lobster (Lily) and calico (Pumpkin), the aquarium has be- come the lobster capital of the aquarium world. The Bay of Fundy The gift shop, above, Fishes tank, complete with large sturgeon, dogfish, salmon, cod, carries a variety halibut and other local species, has three large viewing windows. of marine-related The aquarium also includes a gift shop that carries a variety of products, and a merchandise, including clothing, toys, books, DVDs and jewel- cash counter with lery. There is no admission charge to just visit the gift shop, mak- a difference (right), ing it an ideal destination for holiday shopping for something a shaped like a wolffish. little different. Opening hours and admission prices can be found on the Hunts- man’s website at www.huntsmanmarine.ca chandler sales huntsman cmyk 2011.indd 1 11/29/2011 2:16:26 PM Page 8 Huntsman Marine Science Centre The aquarium is a favourite place for school groups. Some classes simply come to enjoy the facility. Others have a guided tour given by one of the staff interpreters. Guided tours take in the region of one to two hours. Students from the many schools that stay on the campus also have the opportunity to visit the aquarium, where they can study creatures in the touch pool, or the behaviours of the seals. The new aquarium also includes a wet-lab, so that students can carry out experiments or look at Bay of Fundy plankton under the microscopes. The wetlab also includes a SMART board, for teaching purposes, and organisms can be shown on the big screen by the Huntsman’s teaching staff. The entire aquarium, including the lab, has a fast wireless internet connection, and the technology in the building also makes it possible for students to connect to their own school, or have guest speakers beamed in live. Schools from across the continent come to stay at the Huntsman for field courses. Huntsman Marine Science Centre Page 9 Big changes ‘up the hill’ In the not too distant past, it was only students that stayed on the Huntsman’s upper campus. This ranged from overnight Grade 6 students to UNBSJ classes that spend the entire semester here. However, last winter, major upgrades were undertaken at Anderson House, the old building with an amazing view of Passamaquoddy Bay. The $1 million renovations saw the conversion of rooms in the building to the construc- tion of an annex with queen beds and en suite bathrooms. And the facility still has its food services, to cater to students and Lobster Academy attendees, and also to cater events at the aquarium. The changes were made to accommodate the Lobster Academy, which is now one of the Huntsman’s partners. The academy brings buyers of lobsters from around the world to St. Andrews to learn about the lobster industry, biology and cooking. They stay at Anderson House, visit Deer Island, take a trip on a lobster vessel, learn about the lobster industry and lobster biology in the aquarium theatre, and view food demonstrations in the aquarium’s test kitchen. Page 10 Huntsman Marine Science Centre A boardroom with a difference The test kitchen is in the new multi-purpose boardroom, named It can be rented out for different periods of time throughout the the Paturel Room. year, even at times when the aquarium is not open. For more With moveable tables that can configure from U-shape to class- information on the multi-purpose room, contact Marlene Chase room format to one huge table in seconds, the room is adaptable at (506) 529-1222, or [email protected] and can be hired out for a variety of functions. It features a screen, so that those in the room can follow what is happening in the kitchen from an overhead camera, projector and screen, wireless internet, many plug-ins for laptops, and an array of technology for guest speakers and teleconferencing. Possibly the highlight is the large “window” that is a part of the seal habitat, meaning that every once in a while, Snorkel or Loki takes a peek in to see what is going on. It certainly adds a new dimension to board meetings and seminars! To date, the room, which has a capacity of 28, has been used for university seminars, birthday par- ties, the Lobster Academy, school meetings, to cater for a private func- tion, and for several other events. Supporting our Community Congratulations to the Huntsman Marine Science Centre, on the opening of the Fundy Discovery Aquarium. NOV25-P1V1 Scotannstuelcti npgr osveirdveicse psr ionf epslsaionnnainlg , AD-DA-FRE-2011 esincnfigreainnsctereeu rcaitnnugdre, p saruonrjdvee cfyat icmniglai,tni eeasng vpeirrmooejnenmct tesfon.rta l One Team. Infinite Solutions.