On 8th February 2022, we’re celebrating Ocean Networks Canada’s (ONC) 16th birthday with a recap of our 15th anniversary achievements, and a look forward to what’s next for ONC, ocean observing, the blue economy and the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, 2021-2030.

In December 2021, University of Victoria professor emeritus Dr. Verena Tunnicliffe was appointed as an officer of the Order of Canada for her outstanding contributions to ocean sciences, and for being a pioneer in the scientific exploration of the deep sea. Amongst her many accomplishments, Tunnicliffe was one of the founding visionaries of ONC, serving as VENUS (Victoria Experimental Network Under the Sea) Project Director until 2012.

30 September 2021 has been named the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a recognized federal statutory holiday. The University of Victoria and Ocean Networks Canada are committed to building better and more meaningful partnerships with Indigenous communities, and will formally recognize this day by closing for a day of learning and reflection.

An $8.7-million investment into the University of Victoria’s Ocean Networks Canada advances ocean-observing infrastructure on all three of Canada’s coasts, aligning a nationwide plan to safeguard the country’s ocean and coastal ecosystems for future generations. The support by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, announced on Wednesday by Minister Bernadette Jordan, means ONC will continue to deliver data in real time to advance science and provide communities, governments and industry with ocean knowledge to make informed decisions.

The archipelago of Haida Gwaii, home of the Haida Nation, is well known for its highly sensitive and rich ecological and cultural environments. Haida Gwaii’s rugged coastlines and remote location make it particularly vulnerable to marine traffic. As shipping and ocean-based industries continue to grow, understanding and monitoring vessel activity is an important step towards advancing environmental stewardship, resource management, and marine safety.

On 15 June 2021, a science team will embark on a two-week expedition to uncover the mysteries of Canada’s deepest seamounts in the Offshore Pacific Marine Protected Area of Interest. This expedition is a partnership among Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Ocean Networks Canada, the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, and the Council of the Haida Nation, working together to explore and share discoveries from this adventure.

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Ocean Networks Canada is proud to announce our membership in the Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada 50 – 30 Challenge, a collaboration between the Government of Canada, businesses, and diversity organizations. Launched in December 2020, more than 1200 Canadian organizations have joined this program with a goal to achieve both gender parity (50%) and increased presence of underrepresented groups (30%) on boards, and in senior levels of management.

In celebration of Earth Day, Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) is thrilled to announce a significant step toward fully carbon neutral operations. Working in collaboration with Carbonzero.ca, ONC has purchased certified carbon offsets for all workplace, business travel and ship-related emissions for 2020.

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The Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University and partner, the University of Victoria’s Ocean Networks Canada, installed a seafloor observatory in Conception Bay last month to enable real-time monitoring of oceanographic conditions and marine life.

Fuelled by scientific evidence, coordinated efforts and transformative action, Canada has joined other nations in developing a roadmap to a “blue economy,” which strikes a balance between economic growth and sustainability. Kate Moran, president and CEO of Ocean Networks Canada, explains why Canada is well-positioned for success to show cooperative leadership in the global blue economy through ocean intelligence and progressive, ocean-based industries and programs.

Fifteen years ago, ONC made history as the world’s first large-scale, interactive, real-time portal into the ocean. On 8 February 2006, a large underwater telecommunications power bar—known as a node—was lowered to the bottom of Saanich Inlet’s coastal fjord off Vancouver Island, enabling a flow of continuous, real-time data to the surface for science, society and industry. This feat of engineering marked the dawn of the Internet-connected ocean, enabling us to advance our planet’s understanding of the ocean—or ocean intelligence—at a critical time.

Ocean Networks Canada’s cabled observatory in Cambridge Bay, Nunavut has been gathering real-time oceanographic data since 2012. This year, the data reveals that sea ice freeze-up occurred on 27 October, the latest date in eight years of monitoring the Arctic Ocean. By comparison, since 2012 the mean or average date of freeze-up is 5 October, a full three weeks earlier than 2020.

For an uncomfortable couple of hours on Monday, 19 October—following a magnitude 7.5 earthquake off the coast of Alaska—British Columbia coastal communities held their breath awaiting confirmation of a possible tsunami. Fortunately, the strike-slip earthquake caused little damage and the resulting wave was minimal, but the episode served as a poignant reminder of the need to prepare for tsunamis.

Ocean Networks Canada (ONC) supports tsunami resilience in at-risk coastal communities by integrating high tech monitoring, real-time data and detailed geographic mapping into models for public safety.

A federal investment in Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), an initiative of the University of Victoria, will advance the infrastructure and scientific data required to grow Canada’s ocean intelligence for the benefit of society and a sustainable planet. The funding announced on Tuesday is awarded to UVic through the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s (CFI) Major Science Initiatives Fund, which supports a portion of the operating and maintenance costs of selected national science facilities across Canada. Funding ensures organizations like ONC continue to operate and maintain leading-edge ocean technology and data infrastructure.