Old Photographs of the Vancouver Aquarium (1960-1993)

October 30, 2025 Tyler Dixon History, The City

The Vancouver Aquarium was founded by the Vancouver Public Aquarium Association in 1951, a group that included UBC fisheries and oceanography professors. It officially opened on June 15, 1956, in Stanley Park. Early funding came from both public and private sources, including $100,000 contributions from each level of government and support from private donors.

Vancouver Aquarium
196-? – Photograph showing Harold Foley Jr. working in the open ocean foyer of the Vancouver Aquarium.

Over the decades it has grown considerably, expanding its facilities, exhibits, and role in marine research, rescue, and conservation. In 1975 it became the first aquarium in Canada to be accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA). In 1987 it also got accreditation from CAZA (Canada’s Accredited Zoos & Aquariums) and was designated by the federal government as “Canada’s Pacific National Aquarium”.

Vancouver Aquarium
196-? – Photograph showing people watching marine life exhibit.

One significant ethical shift happened in 1996, when the Aquarium and the Vancouver Park Board instituted a policy to no longer capture cetaceans (whales, dolphins, and porpoises) from the wild for display; after that point, only animals born in captivity, captured before the rule, or rescued and non-releasable have been used.

Today the Vancouver Aquarium is much more than a display of fish and marine mammals, it is a modern centre for conservation, education, rescue, and immersive visitor experiences.

Vancouver Aquarium
196-? – Penguins in a marine life exhibit.
Vancouver Aquarium
196-? – Orca at Vancouver Aquarium.
Vancouver Aquarium
196-? – Killer whales leaping out of the water.
Vancouver Aquarium
197-? – Beluga at Stanley Park aquarium.
Vancouver Aquarium
197-? – Flying leap takes dolphin White Wings to tip of trainer Jim Marshall’s baton as visitors watch enthralled.
Vancouver Aquarium
197-? – The longest killer whale in the world??…actually it’s Skana and Hyak preparing for April Fool’s Day.
Vancouver Aquarium
1970 – Whales and their trainer.
Vancouver Aquarium
1970 – Mark Perry feeds herring to whales. Skana, on right, and smaller killer whale, 04, get vitamin-filled herring.
1970 – Whale of a moving job was undertaken Friday when staff of Stanley Park Aquarium transported two killer whales to new quarters in the B.C. Tel exhibit pool. Here a young male whale, who has been named ’04’ for time being, gets sling lift to new home. Aquarium’s pride, Skana, was also moved from to pool.
1970 – Northern fur seal, 10 months old, from Rivers Inlet, at Vancouver Aquarium.
1972-1982 – People looking through aquarium tank windows.
1974 – Vancouver Aquarium hostess Val Harpham gets a close look at two South American Forest Tortoises acquired by the Aquarium from Guyana.
1979 – Two penguins.
1981-1996 – Harbour seal.
1984 – Mike Harcourt and Tillicum.
1984 – Tillicum and Bee Bop Beluga.
1984 – Group outside of the Vancouver Aquarium.
1986-1987 – photograph of a plaque donated by Ivar’s Corporation of Seattle recognizing Vancouver’s first aquarium and its owner and operator, Ivar Haglund.
1986 – Bill Reid sculpture at Vancouver Aquarium, 845 Avison Way, Stanley Park.
1989 – Bjossa makes splashes.
1990-1996 – Two belugas.
1993 – Man feeding seals.

For similar collections, please see my previous posts including Old Photographs of Botanical Gardens, Old Photographs of the Stanley Park Zoo, Vintage Photographs from Vancouver’s Most Popular Beaches, and Vintage Photographs from Stanley Park.

1993 – Rodney a Northern Elephant Seal was transferred from quarantine to the seal pool.

The photos above were collected from the City of Vancouver Archives. If you’re interested, additional information can be found for each photograph on their website. Stay tuned for additional posts featuring historical photos from Vancouver, British Columbia, and across Western Canada. We’d love to know what you think in the comment section below.

 

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