The Whale Interpretive Centre

The Whale Interpretive Centre Johnstone Strait Killer Whale Interpretive Centre Society The WIC has a variety of displays, and offers group tours and school programs.

While at the WIC be sure to:
- view our wide variety of articulated skeletons
- read the signage to learn about each local animal
- ask an Interpreter for a tour of the Centre

Memories from Kelly's visit to the WIC in 2014! These skeletons of a Steller Sea Lion and Harbour Seal are a great tool ...
06/18/2026

Memories from Kelly's visit to the WIC in 2014! These skeletons of a Steller Sea Lion and Harbour Seal are a great tool for learning about the anatomical differences between sea lions and seals.

Thank you so much for sharing this memory with the WIC. If you have any memories or favourite moments from your visit to the WIC, please send them to us via direct message. With your permission, we would love to feature your memories and photos on our page as a way to celebrate the lasting impact of the Whale Interpretive Centre. 💙🐋

If you would like to contribute to , please consider donating to our Canada Helps fundraiser: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/wic-recovery-from-the-fire/ 💙

The latest update in the rebuilding of the Whale Interpretive Centre: we have a roof!Thank you so much for coming along ...
06/12/2026

The latest update in the rebuilding of the Whale Interpretive Centre: we have a roof!

Thank you so much for coming along on the WIC's rebuilding journey. We greatly appreciate your patience and we look forward to welcoming you back to the WIC soon! Once construction has progressed further, we will announce the WIC's 2026 reopening dates. 🐋💙

Join the WIC's rebuilding efforts by joining our newsletter or our Canada Helps fundraiser - links below!

Newsletter sign up: https://www.killerwhalecentre.org/newsletter
Canada Helps: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/wic-recovery-from-the-fire/

Thank you Valerie for sharing photos from your 2015 visit to the Whale Interpretive Centre! If you have any memories or ...
06/11/2026

Thank you Valerie for sharing photos from your 2015 visit to the Whale Interpretive Centre!

If you have any memories or favourite moments from your visit to the WIC, please send them to us via direct message or email. With your permission, we would love to feature your memories and photos on our page as a way to celebrate the lasting impact of the Whale Interpretive Centre. 💙🐋

If you would like to contribute to , please consider donating to our Canada Helps fundraiser: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/wic-recovery-from-the-fire/ 💙

On this World Ocean Day, we wanted to celebrate some of the cetaceans (word for whales, dolphins, and porpoise) you coul...
06/08/2026

On this World Ocean Day, we wanted to celebrate some of the cetaceans (word for whales, dolphins, and porpoise) you could see when visiting the Whale Interpretive Centre! 🐋

The Whale Interpretive Centre is part of the Whale Trail, a series of land-based whale watching sites found between British Columbia and Southern California. WIC Interpreters are always eager to help identify species seen from the Whale Trail site and provide additional information on their populations. When land-based whale watching, it is important to remember that sightings are unpredictable and not guaranteed.

Do you have a memorable sighting from the Whale Interpretive Centre Whale Trail site? Share your sightings in the comments!

To find a Whale Trail site near you or to learn more, see www.thewhaletrail.org.
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The Whale Interpretive Centre is currently under construction following the 2024 fire. 2026 reopening dates will be posted in the coming weeks as construction progresses. Thank you for your patience!

Happy World Ocean Week! 🌊🦭For Ocean Week this year, we're sharing an important step in preparing the WIC’s skeletons: le...
06/06/2026

Happy World Ocean Week! 🌊🦭

For Ocean Week this year, we're sharing an important step in preparing the WIC’s skeletons: letting the ocean do its thing! 💪

Typically when marine mammals die, they sink to the ocean floor where they provide a surge of nutrients. To continue this cycle, when a deceased animal is acquired by the WIC, the bones are collected and sunk under the dock in barrels, while the flesh is returned to the ocean. Holes in the barrels allow water circulation to flush the bones and gives organisms like marine worms and plankton a chance to snack on the remaining tissue until the bones are clean. From the tiniest organisms to the largest whales, this cycle of nutrients connects the whole ecosystem.

Pictured here is the WIC’s 2026 summer team checking on the barrels of Eddie, the Steller sea lion who's been cleaning under the dock since September 2025! As we progress into the summer, we look forward to introducing you to our team and providing more updates on Eddie!

📸 Tyra, Ella, and Kyla checking and organizing bins and bones (May 2026).
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Thank you to Young Canada Works for making it possible for us to hire Kyla and to Canada Summer Jobs for making it possible to hire Ella. Stay tuned to learn more about their positions at the WIC and some of the work they will be doing!
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Thank you to Jackie, James, Laura, Nicolette, Rolf, Serena, Vanessa, and Al for their role in acquiring these bones for the WIC. 💙

On this World Environment Day, the WIC reflects on the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve (RBMBER) and its i...
06/06/2026

On this World Environment Day, the WIC reflects on the Robson Bight (Michael Bigg) Ecological Reserve (RBMBER) and its importance for killer whale conservation!

The RBMBER was established in 1982 to protect critical killer whale habitat. The reserve covers an important feeding and resting area, as well as rubbing beaches that are culturally significant to northern resident killer whales. In BC, beach rubbing, the act of rubbing along smooth pebble shorelines, is unique to the northern resident community.

Access into the reserve (either by boat or on land) is not permitted. If you are visiting the North Island this summer, be sure to stay at least 1 kilometre from the Vancouver Island shoreline when near the reserve boundaries (such as the one pictured below). While access into the RBMBER is not permitted, Orca Lab has several live cameras within the reserve that are accessible online through explore.org. Be sure to check them out this summer! ☀️

"Looking forward to returning to Telegraph Cove and the Whale Interpretive Centre as soon as we can! I have made over 2...
06/04/2026

"Looking forward to returning to Telegraph Cove and the Whale Interpretive Centre as soon as we can! I have made over 25 separate trips to Telegraph Cove over the past 30 years, it is one of my most favourite places in the world. Thanks for rebuilding the Whale Interpretive Centre, it is a place that we hold dear to our hearts." - Howard Takai

Thank you so much for sharing this memory with the WIC. If you have any memories or favourite moments from your visit to the WIC, please send them to us via direct message. With your permission, we would love to feature your memories and photos on our page as a way to celebrate the lasting impact of the Whale Interpretive Centre. 💙🐋

If you would like to contribute to , please consider donating to our Canada Helps fundraiser: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/wic-recovery-from-the-fire/ 💙

More memories from Cheryl McQuillan's visit to the WIC in 2024 🫶Thank you so much for sharing this memory with the WIC. ...
05/28/2026

More memories from Cheryl McQuillan's visit to the WIC in 2024 🫶

Thank you so much for sharing this memory with the WIC. If you have any memories or favourite moments from your visit to the WIC, please send them to us via direct message. With your permission, we would love to feature your memories and photos on our page as a way to celebrate the lasting impact of the Whale Interpretive Centre. 💙🐋

If you would like to contribute to , please consider donating to our Canada Helps fundraiser: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/wic-recovery-from-the-fire/ 💙

A blast to the past: The Whale Interpretive Centre in August, 2012. 🚀If you have any memories or favourite moments from ...
05/21/2026

A blast to the past: The Whale Interpretive Centre in August, 2012. 🚀

If you have any memories or favourite moments from your visit to the WIC, please send them to us via direct message. With your permission, we would love to feature your memories and photos on our page as a way to celebrate the lasting impact of the Whale Interpretive Centre. 💙🐋

If you would like to contribute to , please consider donating to our Canada Helps fundraiser: https://www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/wic-recovery-from-the-fire/ 💙

Happy International Museum Day! 📖Museums are catalysts for connection. At the Whale Interpretive Centre, we work to conn...
05/18/2026

Happy International Museum Day! 📖

Museums are catalysts for connection. At the Whale Interpretive Centre, we work to connect people to the marine environment. Through engaging interpretation and skeletons and specimens, WIC guests gain a deeper understanding about marine mammals and the actions we can take to conserve their populations.

While the Whale Interpretive Centre is under construction following the 2024 fire, we hope to welcome guests back very soon and we look forward to bringing you closer to the marine mammals of Johnstone Strait through the WIC's displays and interactive discussions!

When traveling to northern Vancouver Island this summer, be sure to enrich your experience with a visit to the many museums and cultural centres around. Check out Vancouver Island North's website for more details about the centres in the area.

Address

26 Boardwalk
Telegraph Cove, BC
V0N3J0

Opening Hours

Tuesday 12pm - 5pm
Wednesday 12pm - 5pm
Thursday 12pm - 5pm
Friday 12pm - 5pm
Saturday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+12509283129

Website

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