The Raincoast Ocean Science Awards 2025 at the Vancouver Aquarium

Thank you to everyone who joined us this past Thursday, November 20^th, to celebrate the third year of the Raincoast Ocean Science Awards. This celebration continues the legacy of the Murray A. Newman awards, which were first established in 1995. We were delighted to have the event return to its original home at the aquarium, a perfect venue for guests to appreciate the beauty and complexities of underwater habitats. The life these ecosystems hold are exactly what the event is all about – as is acknowledging the devoted work of those who protect them.

To begin the evening, it was an honour to be welcomed to these ancestral lands of First Peoples by Carleen Thomas from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, a leading force when it comes to Knowledge generation, monitoring, stewardship, and healing. Carleen is a revered leader on Indigenous rights and reconciliation, and she has been a powerful voice for the protection of Burrard Inlet, and for ecological responsibility in the Salish Sea.

VP and Executive Director of the Vancouver Aquarium, Clint Wright, then took to the podium, before Raincoast’s Dr. Valeria Vergara spoke more about Raincoast’s core programs and introduced a short film showcasing a recent killer whale pilot project we have launched with Earth Species Project.

Guests took in beautiful footage from the two-week trip aboard Achiever, Raincoast’s research vessel, as well as fascinating interviews with scientists in the field, all beautifully displayed on the aquarium’s 360 degree screens. It was then time to head into the Exploration Gallery for a tasty three-course meal and introduce the wonderful emcee for the awards ceremony, Johanna Wagstaffe.

Johanna Wagstaffe is the on-air meteorologist, seismologist and scientist for CBC Vancouver News and CBC News Network. She’s also the host of Planet Wonder on CBC News Explore, where she asks climate questions on a journey of discovery through science, connecting perspectives on, and solutions to, climate change.

She also happens to be an extremely skilled emcee, so thank you to Johanna for joining us and presenting the awards.

Doug Neasloss: The Newman Award for Excellence in Conservation and Research

Doug Neasloss is the 2025 winner of The Newman Award for Excellence in Conservation and Research. This award is presented to an individual, team, or organization for significant work, or an entire career, of leading contributions in ocean research and conservation. It honours the founding President of the Vancouver Aquarium, Murray Newman, a longstanding advocate of aquatic sciences, education, and conservation.

Douglas Neasloss is the visionary former chief councilor of the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation, and the current director of the Nation’s Stewardship Authority. For more than two decades, he has been a driving force behind major protections for marine ecosystems, the integration of land and marine planning, and the development of world-class ecotourism rooted in his Nation’s values and territory.

Isobel Pearsall: The North Award for Lifetime Contribution to Ocean Conservation

Isobel Pearsall is the 2025 recipient of The North Award for Lifetime Contribution to Ocean Conservation. This award is named to honour Rudy North, a passionate long-time supporter of ocean science and conservation. It’s granted to an individual whose lifetime accomplishments have resulted in significant advances in scientific understanding of coastal ecosystems and their conservation. 

Rudy and Patricia North are among British Columbia’s outstanding philanthropists, having generously supported non-profit causes for decades. The organizations they have supported include the Vancouver Aquarium, Ocean Wise, Pacific Salmon Foundation, the BC Nature Trust, the Great Bear Rainforest initiative, and Raincoast, to name a few. These organizations have had lasting conservation effects for species, habitats, and perhaps most importantly, the influence that funding has on people who have become forces for significant change on the BC coast. Rudy and Patricia North have been steadfast investors in impactful initiatives for conservation.  

Isobel has dedicated her career to help build the research programs, partnerships, and community-based initiatives that underpin the conservation of Pacific salmon and their habitats both nationally and internationally. Her remarkable leadership, generosity, and talent for bringing people together have created lasting initiatives that will benefit coastal ecosystems for decades to come.

Kiara Kattler: The Raincoast Student Award

Kiara Kattler is the 2025 winner of The Raincoast Student Award, formerly known as the Michael Bigg Student Award, recognizing outstanding research undertaken by graduate students. Students are the aspirational ‘knowledge keepers’ of tomorrow, and their energy, commitment and ideas are critical to a more sustainable future for all of us. We celebrate the power and the potential of students tonight with the Raincoast Student Award.

Kiara is a Master of Science student at the University of Alberta. She is originally from just outside of Vancouver, and, in her own words, she’s “always loved the ocean and the diversity of life it supports.” Kiara’s innovative, collaborative, and community-driven research on invasive green crab and coastal predator dynamics is setting a new standard for how applied ocean science can inform real-world action. 

Marine Education and Research Society: The Nightingale Award in Ocean Engagement

The Marine Education and Research Society (MERS) is the 2025 winner of The Nightingale Award in Ocean Engagement. This award honours the legacy of Dr. John Nightingale and his tireless work as an ocean champion, and his role as the former President and CEO of the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre (1992-2020), and the founding President and CEO of Ocean Wise.

This award honours his vision and legacy as it supports initiatives that increase public awareness, interest and action, ultimately inspiring people to engage and commit to a world where oceans are healthy and flourishing. This award also comes with a $25,000 bursary.

For 15 years, the Marine Education and Research Society has demonstrated what true ocean engagement looks like: science-based outreach, clear and compelling education, and a remarkable ability to reach people where they are – from boaters, coastal communities, educators, and the broader public – to mobilize real behavioural change for marine mammals along our coast. From the See a Blow? Go Slow! campaign to their new free Whale-Safe Boating course, they continue to translate knowledge into action, empowering thousands of people to engage safely and respectfully with marine wildlife.

A special thank you

This evening could not have taken place without our generous supporters and sponsors, as well as this year’s silent auction donors. All proceeds go directly to Raincoast to support our continued work safeguarding the lands, waters, and wildlife of coastal British Columbia.