Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada is now open for business and after delays, a $130 bill and two years of construction; the team is looking to provide 6,000 marine animals some audience. So if you are in the city or looking for a new aquatic vacation, get ready to spare $29.98 entrance fee (youths and seniors cost $19.98, while kids ages three to five cost $9.98 and infants are free with the price of an adult ticket). Mayor Rob Ford, along with Sport and Tourism Minister Michael Chan, and Ripley’s CEO Jim Pattison officially opened the aquarium during the ceremony Wednesday.
The brand-new Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada will be an extraordinary destination for millions of Torontonians and visitors to the grand city. Ripley Entertainment Inc., a part of The Jim Pattison Group from Vancouver, British Columbia, brings you this world-class attraction to the heart of downtown Toronto, next to the CN Tower.
The Aquarium is a 12,500 square-meter (135,000 square-foot) awe-inspiring attraction with more than 5.7 million liters (1.5 million gallons) of water depicting marine and freshwater habitats from around the world. Guests will view over 15,000 animals, including fan favourites such as sharks, jellies, rays, and green sea turtles.
Here’s what you can expect to see at Ripley’s Aquarium:
The Canadian Water Gallery:
Have you ever wondered what lurks beneath the surface of the Great Lakes and Canada’s surrounding seas? Your underwater journey begins in the Canadian Waters Gallery to discover the marine and freshwater wildlife that inhabit our nation’s waters. Explore 17 curated habitats that spotlight the diversity of Canada’s treasures, from the cold waters of the Atlantic, to the Great Lakes Basin, and the depths of the Pacific!
The Rainbow Reef Tank:
If you’re looking to explore a little further from Canada’s shores, this 420,000 liters tank brings creatures from the Caribbean and Indo-Pacific regions. Expect to see clownfish, butterfly fish, chromis among many other critters. Be swept away to an inviting oasis in Rainbow Reef! A whirling explosion of color mesmerizes in this vibrant exhibit of tropical fish. Be transported to the warm and inviting waters of the Indo-Pacific region, and be transfixed by the exotic kaleidoscope of fish that will greet your arrival!
The Discovery Centre:
We promise you will stay dry! Get a close look at our Pufferfish and Boxfish as you pop-up into the underwater viewing bubbles in our Discovery Centre that put you in the middle of the action. When you’re ready to get your hands wet, enjoy the horseshoe crab touch pool, where underwater explorers of all ages can touch these amazing “living fossils.”
The Ray Bay:
With a name like the “Ray Bay”, you can expect plenty of sting rays, both for touching at the shallow pool and viewing inside their tank. The exhibit features three types of stingrays: Spotted Eagle Ray, Cownose Ray and the Southern Stingray.
Touch Tanks:
Budding marine biologists of all ages will be amazed at the sandpaper-like skin of a shark or the silky smooth skin of a stingray in the Touch Tanks of the Shoreline Gallery. Featuring a star lineup of Whitespotted Bamboo Sharks, Brownbanded Bamboo Sharks, Spotted Eagle Rays, Atlantic Stingrays, Cownose Rays and more, you’ll have a great time with these tame, and lovable, creatures of the deep.
Dangerous Lagoon:
An exhilarating thrill you will never forget! The experience begins in our underwater tunnel weaving through the gallery to see the home of many different species of sharks, including Sand Tiger, Sandbar and Reef Sharks. Enjoy saw-wielding sawfish, barracudas, moray eels, spadefish and tarpon. Bonus points for spotting our green sea turtles.
The Gallery: The name is simple, the animals here are not. In this exhibit you can find everything from delicate sea horses to deadly lionfish.