“Going to the WIC “ usually meant for us from OrcaLab, a thirty minute boat ride to attend a gathering, meeting, or presentation. It was a place to find community. The crowd of whale bones inside reminding us of our common purpose. How insignificant we seemed sitting or standing there compared to the size and length of the fin whale suspended above our heads. We came to know, as did other visitors, that each lovingly preserved whale inside that big red building had its own story to tell, what it was in life and how it got there. Other stories were on display too, helping teach and inform: the wall of orca families, newspaper clippings about how Robson Bight was saved, and much more.
And then, the devastating fire on the very last day of 2024 that took all of that away in a few short hours.
Our hearts, like so many, were broken. It is a huge loss. The WIC was a jewell. We join the outpouring of love and support for Mary and Jim Borrowman who created and ran the WIC, along with Gordie Grahame who built and and donated the space, and everyone touched by this fire.
On the very next morning, the first day of the New Year, the local skies were ablaze again, this time with a display of Northern Lights offering the energy of renewal and a sign of hope for things to come.
Please visit this link to help rebuild the Whale Interpretive Centre: WIC Recovery From the Fire
