The exhibit will try to remind even the most jaded urbanite that the state of our oceans and fisheries can't be ignored. According to
Fisheries and Oceans Canada, in 2006 ocean activities employed 315,000 Canadians and contributed $27.6 billion to the country’s gross domestic product. Yet despite the importance of this resource to Canada's economy (or perhaps because of) many of the country's fisheries remain over-exploited, and, in some instances, depleted or recovering from depletion.
Canada's Oceans and You, which will premiere at
Toronto's Green Living Show (GLS) this week (read Y
onge Street feature on the GLS business forum
here), aims to teach visitors about fisheries depletion and also to spur them into action.
At 8,000 square feet, the three-dimensional interactive installation is sure to leave an impression. Not only will the exhibit dwarf every other exhibit at the GLS (it's about three times as large as every other installation), it will get its message across through a combination of videos, interactive displays and almost 50 marine specimens and models.
By forgoing a traditional gallery environment in favour of a consumer and trade show, the organizers hope their message can reach an wider audience.
"We have overdrawn nature's bank account," stated Robert Rangeley, vice president of the Atlantic region office of WWF Canada. "Now it's time to pay back that debt, but no one organization can do that alone. We need to work together."
The 2012 Toronto Green Living Show take place April 13-15, at the Direct Energy Centre. Free tickets to the Green Living Show can be downloaded from the WWF
website.
Writer: Katia Snukal
Source: ROM and WWF