Pacific Science Enterprise Centre Open House
Backgrounder
- As part of the Government of Canada’s new investments in ocean and freshwater science, Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is investing in the development of two Science Enterprise Centres (SECs): the Gulf Fisheries Centre in Moncton, NB and the Centre for Aquaculture and Environmental Research (CAER) in West Vancouver, BC.
SECs will be multi-partner research facilities, equipped with the state-of-the-art infrastructure, tools and networks in the pursuit of world-leading scientific research. This will serve effective management of Canada’s aquatic resources and generate inclusive growth for all Canadians. - These centres will drive collaborative scientific research; foster partnerships; promote community engagement and ocean literacy; build a culture of sustainability, excellence and continuous innovation; and actively focus on traditional ecological knowledge.
- CAER is recognized internationally for its dedication to innovative research and education in aquaculture and the marine environment, and is an ideal site for this initiative. Covering six hectares, the site has a rich history as a rockfish harvest site for local Indigenous peoples. Later, the site became the Great Northern Cannery, owned by the Millerd family, and was known as a place “where people from different cultures worked and lived together for decades.” It has one of the best marine and freshwater sources of any laboratory in North America.
- To explore potential partnerships, DFO is currently engaging with universities, Indigenous communities, non-governmental organizations and other federal government departments.
- Potential plans for the facility include:
- State-of-the-art laboratories, equipment and networks
- Collaborative and innovative scientific research areas
- Sustainable and resilient infrastructure
- Publicly accessible interactive and interpretive spaces
- Opportunities for participation of Indigenous groups
- Science activities and events for the community, including opportunities for citizen science