Whale Interpretive Centre Telegraph Cove, British Columbia
April 5, 2025
It has been over 3 months since the fire in Telegraph Cove that destroyed the Whale Interpretive Centre and its historic and educational collection of marine mammal skeletons. With an outpouring of support and with the clean up underway in Telegraph Cove, the future for the Whale Interpretive Centre looks brighter day after day.
We want to extend a huge thank you to everyone who has contributed to our fundraising efforts, sent us words of encouragement, or offered their time and resources to help support the rebuild of the Whale Interpretive Centre. Your generosity and dedication mean the world to us.
Typically, the Spring marks the beginning of a new season for us at the Whale Interpretive Centre. Old and new staff come together to tirelessly prepare the WIC for a new year: dusting skeletons, preparing new displays, stocking new gift shop merchandise.
This year, our season will look different to years past. As our plans for 2025 develop, please follow our social media channels for any updates: Facebook | Instagram.
We look forward to welcoming you all back to the Whale Interpretive Centre in the future. If you would like to contribute to our fundraising campaign to rebuild the WIC, please consider donating to our Canada Helps fundraiser.
January 2, 2025
A united front of support from the board of directors, surrounding communities and encouragement worldwide has given the WIC hope and the desire to rebuild along with the community of Telegraph Cove. Thank you to each and everyone who has offered support and is willing stand with us to make a new WIC in this new year.
The button to the right goes to the official fundraiser for beginning to rebuild the WIC. Our starting goal is to raise $1 million to help rebuild what was lost and restore and add to the amazing collection that we had, to be shared for generations to come. Every contribution, no matter the size, will directly fund the rebuilding process.
January 1, 2025
On behalf of the board of directors of the Whale Interpretive Centre it is with heavy hearts that we let you know the WIC and its wonderful collection of marine mammal skeletons did not survive the devastating fire of the morning of December 31, 2024.
Despite the overwhelming circumstances, the heroic efforts of the first responders from the Port McNeill, Port Hardy, Alert Bay and Hyde Creek, were nothing short of extraordinary.
We want to thank each one of you that have reached out to the Whale Interpretive Centre and to Gordie and Marilyn Graham and their family for your words of encouragement and hope for the future.
It will take time to process and absorb what has taken place and ask for your patience as the directors work through this over the next few weeks. The Whale Interpretive Centre will keep you posted on social media and the website as we move forward.
As the sun rises on this new day and a brand-new year begins, let it be a reminder that each moment holds the potential for growth, change and new beginnings. Together we will embrace the challenge for renewed strength to what lays ahead.
Jim and Mary Borrowman, Telegraph Cove BC
The Whale Interpretive Centre
Telegraph Cove, British Columbia
The Whale Interpretive Centre (WIC) is home to the largest public collection of marine mammal skeletons in British Columbia. The WIC is run by the Johnstone Strait Killer Whale Interpretive Centre Society, a registered charitable organization that was established in 1993. The WIC opened in 2002 to provide a venue in which to increase public awareness about the biology of marine mammals and the anthropogenic threats facing their populations.
This land-based interpretive centre with these objectives is one of the recommendations of the Johnstone Strait Killer Whale Committee, co-chaired by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and BC Parks.
Directors
Jim Borrowman - Chairperson
Jim has been collecting marine mammal skeletons for over 45 years and his collection was the foundation of the WIC's accumulation of skeletons.
Marie Fournier - Vice Chairperson
Marie is a marine biologist and currently the manager of the Warden program at Robson Bight.
Dr. John Ford - Director
John was the head of cetacean research for the West of Canada with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada. He is a scientist emeritus at the Pacific Biological Station in Nanaimo.
Dr. Lance Barrett-Lennard - Director
Lance is the senior scientist of the Cetacean Conservation Research Program with Raincoast Conservation and has been a director on the JSKWICS board for many years.
Mary Borrowman - Director / treasurer
Mary is now fully retired and dedicates all her spare time to the WIC.
Robin Taylor - Director / secretary
Robin was the first BC Parks contract Warden for the Dr. Michael Bigg Ecological Reserve at Robson Bight and is a charter director.
Dave Hunter - Director
Dave was the Society's first president and remains a charter director. He is a former IBM software specialist.
Brian Clarkson - Director
Brian is a Google Partner and a resident of Telegraph Cove. Brian’s specialty is web design and digital marketing.
Louisa Bates Clarke - Director
Louisa has lived on the North Island her whole life and was a former employee for many years of the WIC. She currently lives in Port Hardy with her husband and three children.
Gordie Graham - Director
Gordie is the owner / operator, with his wife Marilyn, of Telegraph Cove Resorts. He generously donates the building to house the Whale Interpretive Centre.
Robin Abernethy - Director
Robin started her career in marine biology as a naturalist with Stubbs Island Whale Watching in the early 2000's. Robin is still involved with the WIC and is currently working as a GIS and wildlife specialist for the Northwest Territories government.
WIC
Bulletin Board
Minke Whale Returns!
This Minke whale was found dead in 1995 at Cape Caution. It has been displayed in the Whale Interpretive Centre for many years but now needs degreasing and some reconstruction at Cetacea Contracting with Mike deRoos. This project is made possible by the generous donations from the public!
The Minke whale came home to the WIC on May 27th, 2023.
Pygmy Sperm Whale
Our pygmy sperm whale is the only individual of his species to ever be seen in BC waters. It was discovered on Hanson Island in 2003. Similar to our Minke, this specimen has been displayed for many years but is in need of some TLC down at Cetacea Contracting!
Risso's Dolphin
This adult male Risso’s dolphin was discovered washed ashore on Chesterman Beach in Tofino, B.C., in January of 2021. After a necropsy was performed, this large oceanic dolphin was transported to Telegraph Cove where it was sunk off the dock for cleaning. The bones are now undergoing chemical degreasing at Cetacea Contracting with Mike deRoos. A huge thanks to Paul Cottrell with DFO for securing this rare specimen for the WIC!
