2019 Oceans Week Press Release
Monday, May 27, 2019
Oceans Week HFX Announces Event Programming for 5th Annual Festival
K’jiputuk (Halifax, N.S.) — Oceans Week HFX unveiled its programming and event line-up for its 5th annual year. The 2019 celebration of Nova Scotia’s oceans community runs June 1 to 9, 2019 and is packed with events that participants have come to love, along with some exciting new offerings. This year, nearly 40 activities have been organized in collaboration with more than 50 local organizations, community leaders, academia, and businesses to engage citizens in educational and recreational activities related to the ocean, and how best to celebrate our connections to it.
“We’re extremely excited to build on the successes of previous years, taking Canada’s largest oceans week festival to new depths,” said Oceans Week HFX Co-Founder, Alexandra Vance. “We’re proud to introduce lots of new programming this year. The calendar reflects both the relevant conservation issues our oceans are facing today, as well as highlights the fun and optimistic solutions that our community is working so hard to achieve.”
“For our official kick-off event this year, we’re partnering with The Tare Shop and Alexander Keith’s Brewery to host a Zero-Waste Night Market, which will boast 35 vendors and variety of local products” added Vance. “By hosting this event we hope to shed light on the devastating impacts that single-use plastics have on our oceans, and offer alternatives that will inform and inspire our community about the choices we can all make be more sustainable in our day-to-day lives.”
Featured in among the program guide is the annual Ocean and You event celebrating our oceans in partnership with the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic.
“With a historical relevance in Halifax, this has become one of our signature events,” explained Oceans Week HFX Co-Founder, Monica Phung. “In 1992 — long before World Oceans Day was recognized internationally — community leaders right here in our city collaborated with local organizations, museums, academia, and government to host the first ever World Oceans Day event. The Ocean and You builds on this legacy and will feature a wide variety of ocean- themed exhibitors, experts, and exciting games for everyone.”
The United Nations World Oceans Day 2019 (June 8) theme is “Gender and Oceans”. Oceans Week HFX will be linking key messaging and activities to this at events and through its Facebook and Instagram channels. Additionally, the Halifax Central Library will transform its main level to showcase ocean-focused books for all ages, and host an interactive ocean art display encouraging the public to share what this year’s theme means to them.
Some of the 2019 festival’s new events include seaside swing dancing, a DIY workshop on waste-free hygiene products, Oceans Week trivia, an art contest, and more beach cleanups than ever before. Outdoor activities like the annual Yoga by the Sea, McNab’s Island Beach Cleanup, Seacology By Kayak, and the Oceans Week Bike Ride are all returning favorites. As in previous years, multiple educational film screenings and panel discussions will be available throughout oceans week. A complete list of all Oceans Week HFX events is now available via an official promotional poster and online at oceansweek.ca.
Oceans Week HFX is a not-for-profit organization of volunteers dedicated to producing a festival to engage citizens in educational and recreational activities related to our oceans.
Media contact:
Nick Voutour
Media Relations, Oceans Week HFX 902-802-7435 / nick.voutour@gmail.com