VANCOUVER AQUARIUM’S ELEVENTH ANNUAL TOAST TO THE COAST GALA A TRULY STELLAR OCCASION

Ocean lovers, movers, shakers, and bons vivants will be equally enchanted by the finned, furred, and whiskered guests of honour at Toast to the Coast, the 11^th annual fundraising gala that supports Ocean Wise® and Vancouver Aquarium, presented by CIBC.

On Friday, Oct. 20, Toast to the Coast guests will be immersed in a lively soiree as they sip and savour their way through the Aquarium’s galleries. With B.C. wines and extraordinary dishes from some of the province’s best chefs, guests will be able to toast these fascinating aquatic animals while supporting Ocean Wise’s crucial research, education, and conservation programs.

With food and drink in hand, connect with Vancouver Aquarium’s 50,000+ aquatic creatures and their compelling conservation stories. Guests will be transported to a west coast fishing village when they visit Steller’s Bay, the Aquarium’s newest exhibit, and watch the majestic and graceful Steller sea lions hold court while they learn about these ‘research assistants’ and how they are helping their counterparts in the wild. Tanu, Katmai, Mak, Kunik, Rialto, and Hardy – the Aquarium’s six gregarious sea otters – set the tone for the evening (and the dance floor) as guests watch them display playful behaviours as well as learn about the rescue stories. Toast to the Coast may also serve as the last chance for some guests to get hands on with the cownose and southern stingrays in the Discover Rays exhibit, which closes in January.

As guests learn about the ongoing conservation projects that are Ocean Wise’s raison d’etre, they enjoy pours from such B.C. luminaries as Tinhorn Creek Vineyards, Walter Caesar, Vancouver Island Brewery, Parkside Brewery, Sons of Vancouver Distillery, Blasted Church Vineyards, Calliope Wines, Fort Berens Estate Winery, and Howling Bluff Estate Winery. Tastebuds will be tantalized by dishes from purveyors like Fanny Bay Oysters, Hapa Izakaya, Nomad Restaurant, the Sonora Room at Burrowing Owl, Watermark, YEW Seafood + Bar, not to mention Ocean Wise Executive Chef Ned Bell’s outstanding sustainable creations. Desserts spotlight the talents of the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, The Pointe at the Wickaninnish, and Soirette.

Toast to the Coast’s silent auction is another highlight of the evening. This year’s array of auction items is better than ever, with bidding opportunities for adventure and play, aquatic escapades, entertainment, cultural and sports events, pampering respites, art, unique items, and wine and dining experiences. Auction highlights include a one-week stay in an oceanfront condo in Maui, a two-night stay at the Watermark Beach Resort in the Okanagan Valley, and a bespoke suit from Indochino.

The fun continues as guests dance the night away to tunes spun by DJ Bfad, starting at 9:30 p.m.

Getting to and from the Aquarium for Toast to the Coast is part of the experience. The Vancouver Trolley Company will run its vintage-looking trolleys every 15 minutes between Waterfront Station and Vancouver Aquarium, starting at 7:30 p.m. with the last trolley leaving the Aquarium at 12:45 a.m.

Toast to the Coast would not possible without the support of the Vancouver Aquarium’s sponsors: CIBC, The BMW Store, lounge sponsor Chevron Canada, SCA, raffle sponsors Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, drink and food suppliers, event partners, and media sponsor Vancouver Magazine.

Tickets may be purchased individually ($150) or as a VIP package for eight ($1,500). This event sells out quickly. To avoid disappointment, purchase tickets at www.vanaqua.org/tttc. All proceeds support Ocean Wise and Vancouver Aquarium’s important research, conservation, and education programs which benefit ocean conservation.

Vancouver Aquarium
Vancouver Aquarium, an Ocean Wise initiative, is one of the world’s leading accredited aquariums, dedicated to the conservation of aquatic life. www.vanaqua.org

Ocean Wise®
Ocean Wise is a not-for-profit organization whose vision is a world in which oceans are healthy and flourishing. www.ocean.org

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