Canada's Largest Indoor Aquarium Opens Today

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada Welcomes First Guests in Toronto

TORONTO, Oct. 16, 2013 /CNW/ - Toronto's newest and most exciting attraction, Ripley's Aquarium of Canada, opens its doors to the public today.  Containing over 5.7 million litres of water, the 12,500 square metre (135,000 square foot) interactive attraction immerses guests in a thrilling underwater adventure that showcases more than 16,000 marine animals and over 450 species.  Open 365 days a year, Canada's largest indoor aquarium features the biggest shark collection in North America, one of the world's most extensive jelly fish exhibits, 100+ year old giant lobsters, sting ray and bamboo shark touch pools and daily live dive shows.

From the heart-pounding experience of Dangerous Lagoon, a football-field length glass viewing tunnel with moving glide-path sidewalk through sharks, green sea turtles, sawfish and moray eels; to the hypnotic dance of Pacific sea nettle jelly fish which illuminate an array of breathtaking colours from within the world's largest kreisel tank at Planet Jellies, Ripley's Aquarium of Canada will captivate Torontonians as well as guests from around the world and is expected to draw over 2 million visitors per year.

Among the awe-inspiring exhibits, Ripley's Aquarium of Canada features:

• The Canadian Waters Gallery - 17 exhibits of aquatic animals from Canada's own backyard including extremely rare electric blue lobsters from the Atlantic Ocean, unusual Arctic Grayling, giant Pacific octopuses, and a 180-degree Pacific Kelp panel exhibit with wave-making actions that simulate the British Columbia shoreline.
• The 420,000 litre Rainbow Reef tank with 60 varieties of colourful species from the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific regions including tangs, surgeonfish, angles, butterfly fish, damsels, chromis and clownfish.
• A fun-for-all-ages Discovery Centre with tsunami simulator, Great Lakes locks exhibit, horseshoe crab touch pools, yellow 'research' submarine, Shark Reef crawl tunnel, and bubble peekaboo pop-ups among adorable pufferfish or the ever-popular clown fish.
• Ray Bay where dozens of sting rays playfully swim across a large viewing area and to the surface of the interactive Ray touch pool.
• The Gallery featuring exotic marine life such as the delicate sea horse and leafy sea dragons, as well as some of the world's most poisonous fish - lionfish and stone fish.
• A revolutionary behind the scenes look at actual Life Support System of two of the Aquarium's largest tanks; Dangerous Lagoon and Ray Bay.
• More than 100 interactive exhibits including touch pools, multimedia displays and learning centres.

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada is also home to a highly-experienced animal husbandry team of more than 20 marine biologists and aquarists.  Under the leadership of Director of Husbandry, Andy Dehart, the team is responsible for the long-term care of the animals in the exhibit, as well as overseeing water chemistry, animal nutrition, and animal enrichment.  The Aquarium strictly adheres to the standards of animal welfare, veterinary care, wildlife conservation, scientific research, education, staffing, and safety, as regulated by Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), and the Canadian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (CAZA).

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada is wholly owned and operated by Ripley Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Vancouver-based, The Jim Pattison Group.

Ticket prices start from $29.98 for Adults, $19.98 for Youths and Seniors, and $9.98 for Children (Ages 3-5). Children ages 2 and under receive complimentary admission when accompanied by an adult.

For more information, visit www.ripleysaquariumofcanada.com.

About Ripley Entertainment

For over 90 years Ripley Entertainment has been a world leader in family fun.  Built on a foundation of a tiny daily newspaper cartoon which debuted in 1918, the company now appeals to families and people of all ages with entertainment attractions around the world.  The company also has a long successful history in book publishing, product licensing, radio and television.  Part of the Jim Pattison Group, Canada's third largest privately owned company, Ripley's is proud to be the largest and fastest growing chain of amusement attraction companies in the world.

Image with caption: "Ripley's Aquarium of Canada's thrilling "Dangerous Lagoon" is a 2.9 million litre underwater adventure filled with sharks, green sea turtles, sawfish, and more, and features a 315 ft-long (97 metre) underwater tunnel with a moving sidewalk. (CNW Group/Ripley's Aquarium of Canada LP)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20131016_C4252_PHOTO_EN_32097.jpg

SOURCE: Ripley's Aquarium of Canada LP

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Melanie Greco
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