Double Bay Sanctuary

03/12/2026

Proud to see this feature in Totem Times spotlighting the stewardship work at Double Bay on Hanson Island.

With the vision and leadership of Double Bay Sanctuary Foundation and OrcaLab, this work brings together marine conservation, research, and restoration in support of a protected future for orcas and coastal ecosystems.

Clean oceans are essential to the health of all marine life. When we remove debris, reduce pollution, and protect sensitive habitats, we help create safer waters for orcas, fish, seabirds, and the countless species that depend on a balanced ecosystem. Healthy oceans also support the air we breathe, the climate that sustains us, and the biodiversity that connects us all. 🌊

02/05/2026

Double Bay Sanctuary began measuring water current conditions in Double Bay at the proposed location for Corky’s future enclosure.

Current velocity and flow patterns generate forces that directly inform engineering requirements, including infrastructure strength, anchoring, and long-term stability.

Using a current meter, we are collecting site-specific data to ensure design decisions are grounded in measured conditions.

We’ll share updates as analysis progresses and findings inform the next steps in enclosure planning. 🌊

12/11/2025

🖤 In honour of Corky 🤍

Double Bay Sanctuary is prepared to partner with SeaWorld to create a Retirement Plan for Corky in her native waters.

We have reached out to SeaWorld
numerous times asking for a meeting
to present our Retirement Plan for Corky
with no response.

How you can help!

Ask SeaWorld to meet with us.

Write: United Parks & Resorts,
6240 Sea Harbor Drive, Orlando,
Florida, 32821.

This is the gateway to a new chapter in Corky’s Life.

12/02/2025

https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/the-last-unprotected-55-acres-on-hanson-island

🩵This Giving Tuesday, we are honouring Corky.🩵

December 11th marks her 56th anniversary year of her capture date.

We’re asking you to stand with us for something truly precious. The forest that shelters Double Bay.

This land isn’t just trees and shoreline.

It’s a living refuge, a place where the rain moves softly through the canopy, where the tide meets the roots, where generations of orcas have passed by and called out to one another.

Protecting this forest means protecting the quiet, sacred spaces that still exist in this world... the ones that hold stories older than any of us.

For Corky’s family, these waters have been home for lifetimes. And if the world allows her a future where she can return to the ocean she was taken from, this coast could one day be part of her healing.

That hope and that possibility is why this work matters so deeply.

If you’re able, please give today.

Even the smallest gift helps us keep this home waiting, just the way it should be.

💛💛Thank you for caring. Thank you for showing up. Thank you for giving.

https://www.zeffy.com/en-CA/donation-form/the-last-unprotected-55-acres-on-hanson-island

11/14/2025

Zoom for Corky – Double Bay Sanctuary

Double Bay Sanctuary Fundraiser Zoom Event (Home for Corky), with special guests Nicolette Audy, Michael Reppy, Kelley Balcomb-Bartok, and Dr. Alexandra Morton.

What an incredible zoom event we had through California Killer Whale Project and Monterey Bay Whale Watch. Please enjoy listening to Double Bay Sanctuary manager Nicolette Audy who gave a fantastic update about the status of the sanctuary. Michael Reppy then continued to talk about sanctuary updates, issues, land purchasing, and connecting with Sea World. Kelley Balcomb, Ken Balcomb's son, then shared wonderful stories about the "Corky Bus" and other heartfelt stories. Alexandra Morton shared stories of her time working with Corky and Orky shortly after their captures, and talked deeply about what it means to stand up for Corky and all captive cetaceans. What a successful event, and we hope to have more in the future!

The fundraiser shirt, designed by Tasli Shaw (), is still available - you can order by emailing [email protected] for only a $40 donation, free shipping within the US! We have all sizes for adults including L size, and youth sizes.

Donation Link:
https://doublebaysanctuary.org/donate-us/
https://www.alexandramorton.ca/donate/

https://youtu.be/igCGI6mnelQ?si=6bPZiwID822q2Rqm

Double Bay Sanctuary Fundraiser Zoom Event (Home for Corky), with special guests Nicolette Audy, Michael Reppy, Kelley Balcomb-Bartok, and Dr. Alexandra Mort...

11/08/2025

11/07/2025

Thank you & for taking the time to host a fundraiser in support of our mission!

MBWW donated the use of their 65 person vessel, fuel, and their friendly staff to connect people with the wild ocean in California.

CKWP, an organization dedicated to studying California’s Killer Whales, organized and participated in the event.

Double Bay Sanctuary is filled with gratitude by the tremendous amount of support from these two organizations, and the community that joined.

There’s a SPECIAL ZOOM SESSION that follows:

Michael Reppy will discuss Double Bay Sanctuary’s Project development.

You’ll also receive updates straight from “The Sanctuary” and meet Alexandra Morton who has spent a lot of time studying Corky.

This is all is a good reminder on how deeply we’re all connected through community, purpose, and shared stewardship.

Also…
there’s limited T-shirts still available designed by:

Large is sold out.

Email: [email protected]
Subject: Corky’s T-Shirt

Paying for the T-shirt is easy.
$40.00 donation to:
https://www.californiakillerwhaleproject.org/donate.

Thanks for the great photos 📸

Tomoko
Colleen Talty
Dane Mc Dermott

10/31/2025

Keep calm and kelp on! 🌿

Our “Kelp-o’-lanterns” are lighting the way toward a more sustainable future, one glowing smile at a time.
Because protecting the ocean isn’t scary… it’s something to glow about! 🌊💙

Do you like our kelp gang? 👀
Head to our stories to see the behind-the-scenes of our Halloween workshop! 👻

10/29/2025

🐋 Double Bay Sanctuary
is growing, and so is our vision.

➡️ www.DoubleBaySanctuary.org

🌎 Explore our new website and discover:

✨ The mission that guides us

🌊 The land and waters we are protecting

🩵 The people, community, and partners that make it happen.

It’s a space to stay connected, and stay apart of what we have been creating together and the dreams we are still building.

09/26/2025

🙌 Here’s a glimpse from our onsite team’s recon mission for some exciting news we’ll announce soon!

It’s been a busy and inspiring summer at Double Bay Sanctuary, with so much happening behind the scenes. We can hardly wait to share what’s next.

Every step brings us closer to healthier oceans and the vision of creating a retirement home for Northern Resident Orca, Corky. 🩵

09/06/2025

Whale Disentanglement Update: t̕ut̕u

On September 4th, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) began efforts to disentangle a humpback whale known as t̕ut̕u near Campbell River. The team was able to remove part of the entangling gear and attached a satellite tag to monitor the whale’s movements overnight.

By September 5th, the tag had fallen off, but thanks to the vigilance of our local community, t̕ut̕u was located in Johnstone Strait, off Blinkhorn Peninsula, with the last sighting reported near Cracroft Point. The Double Bay Sanctuary team monitored the whale until the disentanglement crew arrived and remained on site as a support vessel throughout the day.

During these operations, the disentanglement team attached four buoys to help slow the whale, successfully removed 100 feet of gear, and placed a new satellite tag before losing daylight.

On September 6th, DFO confirmed that t̕ut̕u is now free of all entangling gear.

We extend our gratitude to DFO’s highly trained disentanglement team, to Marine Education & Research Society for keeping the community informed, and to the community members whose vigilance made locating t̕ut̕u possible.

If you see a marine mammal in distress, please contact DFO’s Marine Mammal Incident Reporting Hotline: 1-800-465-4336.

Photos Taken with a 100-400mm Lens by:
Nicolette Audy
Laurene Le Gros