VANCOUVER AQUARIUM MARINE MAMMAL RESCUE SOCIETY HONORED IN DEFENDER SERVICE AWARDS PRESENTED BY CHASE WITH CUSTOMIZED DEFENDER 130 SUV
- Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society has been honored as the winner of the Animal, Wildlife and Marine Welfare Category Presented by Disney in the Defender Service Awards, receiving a customized Land Rover Defender 130 and $30,000
- Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society located in Vancouver, BC rescues and rehabilitates animals along the BC coast, responding to hundreds of calls and leading critical efforts
- Six Winners of the Defender Service Awards were announced during a special evening celebration on Nov 15th at Destination Defender, a weekend adventure and music festival in Temecula California
- The Defender Service Awards, now in its 5th year, recognizes nonprofits and charities across the US and Canada for exceptional work in improving and supporting their communities.
Defender, the original British adventure brand, proudly revealed the six inspiring winners of the 2025 Defender Service Awards, presented by CHASE. The announcement was made during a live ceremony at Destination Defender, hosted at Galway Downs in Temecula Valley, California. The event celebrated nonprofit and charitable organizations that exemplify unwavering dedication to their communities, recognizing their impactful service and commitment to making a difference.
Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society was announced as the winner of the Animal, Wildlife and Marine Welfare category Presented by Disney in the Defender Service Awards, receiving a customized Defender 130 SUV and $30,000.
Vancouver Aquarium Marine Mammal Rescue Society (VAMMR) is Canada’s only dedicated marine mammal hospital. Though the organization shares a history and partners with the Vancouver Aquarium, VAMMR operates as an independent charitable organization. The organization rescues, rehabilitates and releases sick, injured, and orphaned marine mammals. Covering the entire BC coast and responding to hundreds of calls each year, VAMMR primarily cares for seal pups, but also treats sea lions, sea otters, small cetaceans and more. Additionally, VAMMR is the only team in Canada permitted to disentangle sea lions from deadly debris. With a small staff, supported by trained volunteers, VAMMR provides world-class care and contributes to vital research and public education.
“We’re truly honoured to receive this award. It’s an investment in the work we do every day to rescue, rehabilitate, and protect marine mammals across BC. This support allows us to expand our emergency response capacity, and none of it would be possible without our incredible partners, supporters, and volunteers. We’re also deeply grateful to Land Rover, Chase, and our category sponsors, Disney, for making this opportunity possible.”
Martin Haulena, Head Veterinarian and Executive Director, Vancouver Aquarium
Six winning organizations who won their respective categories will be gifted a customized Defender 130 vehicle, purpose-built to support their local communities and advance their missions. With seating for up to eight volunteers across three rows, 8,200 lbs. of towing capacity and 88.9 cubic feet of cargo space, the Defender 130 vehicle is designed to make a difference. Each Defender 130 vehicle will be further personalized to reflect the organization’s unique mission, featuring a custom exterior wrap and mission-specific accessories. Winners also received $30,000 in funding to help further serve those in need.
To learn more about 2025 Defender Serviced Awards Presented by Chase and six category winners, please visit:https://media.landrover.com/en-us/news/2025/11/driven-purpose-nonprofit-heroes-win-defender-service-awards
To learn more about the Defender brand, vehicles, and the Defender Service Awards Presented by CHASE, please visit:https://www.landroverusa.com/defender/index.html
About Defender
Defender embraces the impossible. Each member of the Defender family is purposefully designed and highly desirable. A modern-day hero that respects the past but at the same time anticipates the future.
Available in 90, 110 and 130 body styles, with up to eight seats, each has a charisma of its own.
The tough luxury Defender OCTA is the master of performance – taking performance and capability to another level on and off-road.
A beacon of liberty that can trace its roots back to the first Land Rover in 1948, Defender is a brand that supports humanitarian and conservation work with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Tusk Trust.
The Defender brand is underpinned by Land Rover – a mark of trust built on more than 75 years of expertise in technology and world-leading off-road capability.
Defender vehicles are designed and engineered in the UK and sold in 121 countries. It belongs to the JLR house of brands alongside Range Rover, Discovery and Jaguar.
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Important notice
JLR is constantly seeking ways to improve the specification, design and production of its vehicles, parts and accessories and alterations take place continually. Whilst every effort is made to produce up-to-date literature, this document should not be regarded as an infallible guide to current specifications or availability, nor does it constitute an offer for the sale of any particular vehicle, part or accessory. All figures are manufacturer’s estimates.