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Following the announcement from the federal and provincial governments of $5 million in funding towards the new Bay of Fundy Discovery Centre, on October 19 the Huntsman launched its Seal the Deal campaign to raise the final $2 million needed for the completion of the centre.

 This multifunctional project will integrate and show case our missions of education, research, and innovation. It will demonstrate our vision of stewardship for the ocean and contribution to the feeding of people through applications of marine science.

A public aquarium themed around the diversity of the Bay of Fundy, a natural wonder of the world for its unique tidal range and diversity of sea life, will be a highlight of a visit to the Huntsman and we expect the associated lecture theatre will be well used for conferences, teaching, and public events.

At the launch of the Seal the Deal campaign, above photo, Dr. Fred Whoriskey, chair of the board of directors, and Bill Robertson, executive director, unveiled a novel variation on the traditional fund-raising thermometer - a large tank with a seal on a raft, to which water will be added to represent donations. The large aquarium is now on display in a storefront on Water Street in downtown St. Andrews.

You can help by using the donate now button below, or click here to see how you can donate.

YOU can help us SEAL THE DEAL!

As a non-profit organization, tax receipts for donations can be made. If you would like to make a donation, we would welcome your support. For more information on the campaign, contact Muriel Jarvis.

Campaign update

We’ve started!
Work is already under way on the new Bay of Discovery Centre. Geophysical surveys have started on the site of the new centre, as you can see in the picture on the right. It’s a tight schedule, with lots of activity around the campus already (and lots of meetings!), with the planned opening of the new centre to take place in mid-2011.

In Gratitude!

The Living Environmental Studies (LES) Foundation, based in Montreal, is making a donation of $100,000 to the Huntsman Bay of Fundy Discovery Centre!  The Foundation director, Mrs. Lois Katnick, made the announcement to Huntsman Director of Development Muriel Jarvis, who was understandably elated by the gift. 
This Foundation has been established for the purpose of keeping our planet naturally healthy, based on the belief that education leads to action. The Huntsman has been in the business of education for 40 years. The Bay of Fundy Discovery Centre will educate thousands of young people and adults about the unique marine ecosystem that is in our own backyard. 
As a result, it will kindle an appreciation for the issues facing our oceans and coastal environments, and ignite a desire to become part of the solution. Thank you, LES Foundation, for believing in the future of Huntsman, and helping us SEAL THE DEAL!
Since the SEAL THE DEAL Campaign was launched on October 29, a total of $205,000 has been pledged and received for the construction of the Bay of Fundy Discovery Centre. This is over 10% of our target of
$2 million!
A flyer outlining the work that is done here at Huntsman, and the plan for the Bay of Fundy Discovery Centre, was distributed to 1,300 households in the St. Andrews area on November 20. Ads are being placed in the local paper, and more flyers are planned in the near future. 
We thank all of you who have made contributions to this exciting initiative, and look forward to engaging many new donors in our mission.

Donation with a difference!
At a time when gift giving is in order, the Huntsman received a donation with a difference.
A donation came in from Kayley Clark, 6, of Fredericton, who decided that friends shouldn’t bring her gifts for her birthday party, but instead bring cash to help the seals move in to their new home. And to top it off, not content with raising just over $126 from the party itself, Kayley added the money she was given for her birthday, to make the total amount she donated $186.85.
Kayley, and her family, visited the Huntsman aquarium in the summer, and Kayley fell in love with the two harbour seals, Loki and Snorkel. And when she learned about the campaign to create a new discovery centre, including a much bigger home for the seals, she wanted to help.
On Saturday, December 12, Kayley, her three-year-old brother, Riley, and her parents, Shannon and Krista, visited St. Andrews to make the donation to Muriel Jarvis, Director of Business Development. In return for her thoughtful gift, Kayley received a toy seal with a personalized name tag, some postcards and a one-of-a-kind seal poster, along with an invite to visit the new centre when it is opened in 2011. A temporary aquarium is anticipated for the 2010 season.
The Clark family recently moved back to Fredericton from Calgary. Shannon is originally from the Fredericton area, and said that he has visited the aquarium many times, as his family has a property near St. Andrews.
“Kayley’s great-grandfather lived down here, and I’ve spent a lot of time here over the years,” he said.
On visits to the Maritimes, there was an opportunity to introduce the rest of the family to the wonders of the Bay of Fundy, and it seems that ocean made a big impression.
Kayley has visited the aquarium several times now, and came up with the idea of the birthday party
donations without any prompting from her parents.
“I wanted to help the animals,” she said as she tightly clutched her new toy seal.
Krista said that when the family went on a whale-watching trip from Grand Manan, Kayley was definitely more interested in the seals.
“She kept asking, “When are we going to see the seals, mom?”” Krista laughed.
The family contacted the Huntsman in the hope that it might inspire other children – and adults – to come up with some fund-raising ideas and help contribute to the campaign.