A new tourist attraction is coming to Montreal in form of an aquarium

The future Aquarium de Montréal will lead by innovation, combining spectacular habitats and unique immersive experiences for guests of all ages and abilities. Image rendering provided by Aquarium de Montréal. (CNW Group/Groupe Écorécréo Inc.)

Originally conceived as part of Expo 67, when the Montreal Aquarium closed in 1991, the city has been without a similar attraction, but a future aquarium is planned to open next year as part of the new Royalmount shopping and residential development.

Montreal-based Ecorecreo Group announced Tuesday that it will be leading the development and operation of the future Aquarium de Montréal, scheduled to open in 2024.

Ecorecreo operates in several locations across Quebec, mostly renting outdoor recreational equipment at places like Montreal’s Old Port  and Parc Jean-Drapeau.

“Our vision of the Aquarium de Montréal is to create an unforgettable journey that celebrates healthy marine and freshwater environments, while also highlighting uncompromised animal care and the importance of conservation action,” says Nicolas Gosselin, General Manager of Aquarium de Montréal.

“The Ecorecreo Group’s commitment to the welfare of animals will be led by an expanding team experienced in providing for animal well-being through enriching, positive behavioral care and stimulating environments. Likewise, forming credible science, education, and conservation partnerships is key to our mission, such as the relationship we have initiated with Dr. Claire Vergneau-Grosset, Professor in Zoological Medicine at Université de Montréal,” adds Gosselin.

Vergneau-Grosset, who specializes in research for the conservation of endangered species of fish and reptiles said she was thrilled to be forging a relationship with Aquarium de Montréal.

“We share the same desire to address urgent environmental issues and the conservation of endangered species, whether here in Montreal or elsewhere on the planet.”

For more information on the project, visit www.aquariumdemontreal.com.

Daily travel news for 2023-03-13: New Saudi airline, Travel influencers and Travel photos of the year

    • Saudi Arabia has launched a new national airline to compete against regional giants Emirates, Qatar Airways and Turkish Airlines… https://t.co/4PgMBnN4dF
    • Think your #travel photos are good? I didn’t see them in this list of winners of the 2023 National Geographic Travel Photos of the Year… https://t.co/5nw1bTx6y6

Daily travel news for 2023-03-01: Rising roaming fees, Travel insurance fine print and An upcycled amenity kit

    • A new Travel Foundation report dismisses the #travel industry’s current sustainability measures as “woefully inadequate.”… https://t.co/HX7zlUQNdV
    • Newfoundland isn’t the only place with a puffin patrol. There’s a town in Iceland which also pulls out all the stops to save lost pufflings… https://t.co/gRlnvFWJ7F

 

 

Daily travel news for 2023-02-28: A useful travel app, sleep tourism and Skipping inflight meals

texting on a smartphone
    • Is skipping inflight meals actually good for the environment or just a way for airlines to use greenwashing to cut costs?… https://t.co/pqiSMvPXvT
    • Kudos to the airline pilot who flew his plane in circles to show passengers the northern lights.… https://t.co/QalCprNm1c
    • Lufthansa has launched Green Fares to help assuage your flight shame but environmentalists say offsetting isn’t the answer… https://t.co/LaRCN6dJDs
    • It’s time to push back on those cash-grab fees that #hotels have been tacking on to customers’ bills for the past several years… https://t.co/FFN3R6zDr4

Many travel companies still promote exploitive animal tourism experiences

A macaque monkey during a performance at Phuket Zoo, Thailand. Amy Jones / Moving Animals (CNW Group/World Animal Protection)

Even though polls show that a majority of Canadians would refuse to book with a tour operator if they knew they promoted the use of wild animals in entertainment, many companies are still selling these experiences to consumers, says World Animal Protection Canada.

World Animal Protection released its Tracking the Travel Industry report, Monday to independently analyze the public commitments travel companies have, and haven’t, made towards animal welfare.

The research was conducted by the University of Surrey which looked at several major travel companies including Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia, Flight Centre, Groupon, Get Your Guide, Klook, The Travel Corporation (TTC), Trip.com, TripAdvisor / Viator, and TUI/Musement.

In addition, World Animal Protection checked to see if these companies offered common exploitative attractions that involved elephants, primates, big cats, dolphins or other wildlife shows.

A majority of companies reviewed received failing grades for selling exploitative animal experiences and for not encouraging educational, humane and sustainable experiences instead, reported World Animal Protection.

“We are asking responsible travellers to join us in urging these travel companies to do better for animals,” said Melissa Matlow, World Animal Protection Canada’s Campaign Director.

A 2022 Savanta poll found that 84 per cent of Canadians agree that tour operators should avoid activities that cause suffering for wild animals and 62 per cent would not travel with a tour operator if they knew they promoted the use of wild animals in entertainment.

The report acknowledged that some companies have taken positive steps for wildlife over recent years, including Airbnb, Booking.com and The Travel Corporation (TTC), which is headquartered in Canada and owns 40 travel brands, including Trafalgar and Contiki.