ORCA presents: Canada's Ocean Decade newsletter
May 2024 – Issue 12

In this issue:

Dive into Ocean Week Canada 2024!
Canada to host 2024 AAORIA forum in Ottawa
Canadian presence in Barcelona at the Ocean Decade Conference
Call for Ocean Decade actions on resource mobilization and capacity development
Promoting Cold Oceans and Northern research collaboration
'The Tale of Sleeping DOM' – An endorsed Ocean Decade action merging science and storytelling
Upcoming events
Contact us

Dive into Ocean Week Canada 2024!

Celebrate the ocean from June 1 to 9, 2024, as Ocean Week Canada returns for its third year! With half a million attendees expected at events nationwide and 2 million more engaging online, this festival brings together families, community groups, scientists, Indigenous Peoples, artists, and industry, to connect with and celebrate the ocean. Supported by 10 regional hubs coordinated by the Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition (COLC), Ocean Week Canada offers a diverse program of local and national events including immersive exhibits, shoreline clean-ups, artist-led workshops, culinary experiences, water-based recreational activities, and so much more. Don't miss key highlights like the live-streamed launch event on June 1st and World Ocean Day celebrations on June 8th including Fisherman’s Wharf in Victoria, Ripley’s Aquarium in Toronto, Queen Marque Courtyard in Halifax, and Quai de l’Horloge in Montréal. For more details and to find an event near you, visit oceanweek.ca.

©Canadian Ocean Literacy Coalition (COLC)

Canada to host 2024 AAORIA forum in Ottawa

Save the date for the All-Atlantic Ocean Research and Innovation Alliance (AAORIA) Forum in Ottawa, on October 8 to 10, 2024! The 2024 forum will convene partners from around the Atlantic Ocean to drive forward collaborative ocean science in the Atlantic. The forum will feature high-level meetings and technical discussions to take concrete, coordinated, and measurable actions for a healthy and sustainable Atlantic Ocean. Stay tuned for more information. Registration details coming soon!

Canadian presence in Barcelona at the Ocean Decade Conference

The Ocean Decade Conference that took place in Barcelona from April 10 to 12, 2024, marked a significant milestone in global efforts to advance ocean science for sustainable development and conservation. Canada had a strong and diverse presence with representatives from across our ocean community, with Canadian organizations hosting and participating in various aspects of conference programming. Check out this link to watch recordings and learn more details about the Conference.

Call for Ocean Decade actions on resource mobilization and capacity development

The Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission at UNESCO has announced a new call for Ocean Decade actions focused on resource mobilization and capacity development (Call No. 07/2024), open until August 31, 2024. This call aims to accelerate progress towards achieving the Decade's objectives by enhancing financial support and building capacity in ocean science and governance. Through this call, partners are encouraged to propose transformative actions that contribute to the Ocean Decade's vision of 'the science we need for the ocean we want’. These actions, implemented as programs, projects, or activities, will drive progress towards understanding the ocean system and delivering science-based solutions to achieve the 2030 agenda. Proponents are urged to consider how their actions will bolster the sustainability of ocean science, whether through enhancing infrastructure or fostering individual and institutional capacity. Learn more.

Promoting Cold Oceans and Northern research collaboration

Memorial University's Cold Oceans and Northern Initiative serves as a knowledge hub for students, faculty and partners. This initiative provides up-to-date information on cold oceans and northern activities across Memorial's campuses. With detailed descriptions of projects, partnerships, facilities, and programs, along with job listings, funding opportunities and event updates, it's a comprehensive resource to explore Memorial's contributions to cold oceans and northern studies, and identify collaboration opportunities.

Visit their new webpage, subscribe to their newsletter, and connect on LinkedIn to stay informed. For inquiries and collaboration opportunities, contact coordinator Mandy Rowsell at mandy.rowsell@mun.ca.

'The Tale of Sleeping DOM' – An endorsed Ocean Decade action merging science and storytelling

Embark on a unique journey merging ocean science with storytelling! ‘The Tale of Sleeping DOM’ by Aude Flamand at the Institut des Sciences de la Mer de Rimouski (ISMER) of the Université du Québec à Rimouski (UQUAR) with support from ArcticNet and Québec-Océan shares a geochemical oceanography master's research through a captivating children's book telling the story of a young man, Dom, who had been preserved in the core of a permafrost cliff for tens of thousands of years. Delve into the impact of thawing permafrost on the ocean and its geochemical processes delivering dissolved organic matter (DOM), enriched by insights from the Inuvialuit community of Tuktoyaktuk, Canada. The virtual launch of the book at the primary school of Tuktoyaktuk last month was a success, and the recording of the session will be published soon. This endorsed Ocean Decade publication is now freely accessible online, with physical copies circulating in Canada and beyond. Join us in celebrating this groundbreaking endeavor, fostering accessibility and curiosity in ocean exploration. Download your copy in English or French.