With its backyard access to the Atlantic Ocean, AV俱乐部 has long attracted students and researchers from across Canada and around the world with a passion for marine biology and ocean sciences.
Now, the presence of the , located in Halifax and featuring an awe-inspiring blue whale skeleton and more than 30 marine exhibits and tanks, will bring audiences of all ages to Dal to explore the wonders of our ocean.
On Monday (October 27), Dal welcomed more than 200 guests to the Steele Ocean Sciences Building for an unveiling of the Beaty Centre before it opens to the public this December.聽
鈥淎V俱乐部 is known around the world for its ocean research but often has limited opportunities to showcase our work here at home,鈥� said biology professor Dr. Boris Worm, who served as MC during the ceremony.聽
We hope will inspire the next generation of ocean scientists, guardians, and entrepreneurs.
鈥淭his is changing now. Dozens of AV俱乐部 researchers and staff have worked for years to make the Beaty Centre a success and we are thrilled to welcome our community into this space that we hope will inspire the next generation of ocean scientists, guardians, and entrepreneurs.鈥�
L-R: Halifax South Downtown Councillor Laura White, donor Ross Beaty, Biology Professor Dr. Boris Worm, Dean of Science Dr. Chuck Macdonald, Elder Ann LaBillois, and Discovery Centre International President & CEO Dov Bercovici.
Marking the occasion
AV俱乐部鈥檚 Elder in Residence Ann LaBillois began the event by leading a blessing of the space, referencing the Mi鈥檏maq connection with nature.
鈥淲e鈥檝e made our world very, very busy and we forget sometimes that without the animals, without the water, we wouldn鈥檛 be here. We wouldn鈥檛 be able to exist.鈥澛�
Indigenous knowledge and themes are incorporated throughout the Beaty Centre, with exhibits and displays exploring the importance of marine species in Mi鈥檏maq culture and concepts such as Netukulimk, which emphasizes sustainable living and respect for the ocean鈥檚 resources. Mi鈥檏maw is also one of three languages, along with English and French, represented on exhibit displays throughout the centre.
Some of the displays in the Beaty Centre, including an exploration of the Mi鈥檏maq concept of Netukulimk.
Seeing the vision
Donor Ross Beaty and his family, whose $8.2M gift in 2023 made the project possible, visited from Vancouver.
鈥淭his is a big day for me and my family,鈥� said Beaty, noting the hard work of many people involved in launching the space that bears his family name. 鈥淚t鈥檚 gone from an idea to reality, and I鈥檓 really hopeful that it鈥檚 going to be well received here in Nova Scotia and something you can be proud of as a Canadian centre that鈥檚 relevant to the world today.鈥�
The philanthropy of Beaty, a geologist and resource entrepreneur who was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2017, and his family has now helped create university-based science centres on both coasts. The opened in 2010 at the University of British Columbia.
A guest gets an early look at the Beaty Centre鈥檚 鈥淜elp Under Threat鈥� exhibit.
Collaboration in action
Halifax Councillor Laura White, a Dal engineering alum and former ocean-tech worker, welcomed the Beaty Centre鈥檚 arrival as a new attraction for Halifax.聽
鈥淭he Beaty Centre is a great example of collaboration in action that will benefit school-age and post-secondary students, researchers, and community members,鈥� said White. 鈥淚t will attract not only locals, but also visitors to our beautiful city.鈥�
It will attract not only locals, but also visitors to our beautiful city.
Discovery Centre International (DCI) will operate the Beaty Centre in collaboration with Dal. DCI President & CEO Dov Bercovici echoed White鈥檚 sentiments, emphasizing science鈥檚 ability to bring people together. 鈥淭he Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity is more than an attraction 鈥� it鈥檚 a promise that science belongs to everyone, and that together, we can create a future defined by curiosity, courage, and collaboration.鈥�
Introducing 鈥淢ichael鈥檚 whale鈥�
The Beaty Centre鈥檚 star attraction is its 18-metre blue whale skeleton, made possible through a partnership with the (MARS). Following a scientific necropsy conducted by MARS in collaboration with wildlife pathologists from the Canadian Wildlife Health Cooperative at the Atlantic Veterinary College, MARS facilitated the collection of the skeleton and its provision to AV俱乐部 for inclusion in the Beaty Centre. MARS also contributed to the whale exhibit鈥檚 educational materials.聽
The Beaty Centre for Marine Biodiversity鈥檚 interactive exhibits set up in the atrium of the Steele Ocean Sciences Building.
While the skeleton鈥檚 presence has been apparent to passers-by in the Steele Building since its arrival earlier this year, it will now be known as 鈥淢ichael鈥檚 Whale.鈥澛�
The Garron family, who last year created the Michael Albert Garron Fund to support the next generation of ocean scientists at Dal, named the whale after the late Michael Albert Garron (1961-1975). Growing up, Michael was fascinated with the ocean and dreamed of becoming a marine biologist before he passed away from cancer at age 13.
The Garron family sponsored the naming of 鈥淢ichael鈥檚 Whale鈥� in memory of the late Michael Albert Garron.
Several Garron family members, including Michael鈥檚 parents Myron and Berna and brothers Anthony and Mark, were in attendance.
鈥淲e thank you for your generosity and for keeping Michael鈥檚 legacy alive,鈥� said Faculty of Science Dean Dr. Charles Macdonald. 鈥淲e know that 鈥楳ichael鈥檚 Whale鈥� will fascinate visitors for years to come.鈥澛�
An ocean of support
While the Beaty family鈥檚 gift represented the largest contribution, the centre would not be possible without the support of other donors who made significant investments:
- The Garron Foundation
- J&W Murphy Foundation
- The Hewitt Foundation
- The Crabtree Foundation
- The Walker Wood Foundation
- Jerry & Rui Nickerson
- The George W. Wilson & Teresa Madelyn (Merriam) Wilson Foundation
- The Five B Family Foundation
- The Stevens Family Foundation
As a token of appreciation, donors were presented with miniature blue whale statues made by AV俱乐部鈥檚 in-house glassblower, Ihor Krasilia, as a one-of-a-kind gift.
Opening in December
The Beaty Centre is in the final stages of getting ready for its public opening in December, with DCI staff putting the finishing touches on the space and Aquatron manager John Batt and his team getting the remaining marine species acclimated to their new homes.聽
When it opens, AV俱乐部 students, staff, and faculty will be able to visit free of charge with a DalCard. Visit the Beaty Centre website to learn more.
Beaty Centre staff will begin welcoming visitors in December 2025.