Put it to a Vote-opus!
Monday July 8th to Sunday July 21st, 2013
Sidney, BC- Once again, the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is asking the public to help name their newest
eight-armed addition: a female Giant Pacific Octopus who will be taking up residence at the aquarium
for the next six months.
This isn’t the first time that the not-for-profit aquarium has held an octopus naming contest. The public
has helped select the names of several den-dwellers in the past, the results of which produced names
like Steve and ‘the Dude’ (named for Jeff Bridge’s popular character in the cult classic movie The Big
Lebowski). “The Centre only keeps Giant Pacific Octopuses for about six months before returning them
back to the ocean to fulfill their relatively short lifecycle,” says Marketing Manager, Christina Smethurst.
“So with each new octopus we welcome, we need a name!”
The last contest, in conjunction with Valentine’s Day, involved a write-in vote where people suggested
the name of a loved one with an explanation as to why they deserved an octo-namesake. First prize
went to a poem by a Vancouver Island school teacher written for his girlfriend, Emily. “The contest will
run differently this time,” says Smethurst. “We’ve chosen eight names, each inspired by a location in or
around the Saanich Inlet, and are asking our visitors to vote for their favorite. The name that receives
the most votes wins.” Here is the list of names to choose from, along with their associated location:
Mo (Moses Point), McKenzie (McKenzie Bight), Sunny (Senanus Island), Hattie (the Malahat),
Goldie (Goldstream), Pat (Patricia Bay), Millie (Mill Bay), and Bambie (Bamberton)
To place a vote, people must visit the aquarium with either a day pass or their Annual Pass. The Centre
will be accepting ballots until Sunday, July 21st, with the winning name announced on the Shaw Ocean
Discovery Centre Facebook page and website (www.oceandiscovery.ca) the following day. “We may
end up with the world’s first octopus named ‘Bambie’,” said Smethurst. “We’ll just have to wait and
see!” The aquarium currently has Summer hours (until Sept. 2nd) of 10am to 5pm seven days per week.
Contact: Christina Smethurst 250.665.7511 (Ext 109) marketing@oceandiscovery.ca, www.oceandiscovery.ca
About Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre: we are a not-for-profit aquarium and marine education facility focused on the diverse ecosystem of the
Salish Sea. Funds to operate the aquarium and associated education programs come from admissions revenues, memberships and generous
community support through donations. Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre is governed, funded, and owned by the New Marine Centre Society, a
registered charity. The Centre is located at 9811 Seaport Pl on the waterfront in Sidney, BC.