My Vancouver 2016: Vancouver Aquarium's John Nightingale

Welcome to My Vancouver 2016, a curation of local industry experts, community and thought leaders, each telling us their resolutions for Vancouver in 2016. Since 2008, we’ve been bringing you a bucket list of things to do around the city while also keeping you informed with the many issues in our community. Now, we’re focusing on what’s next: the evolution of our city into something greater, starting with 2016.

What do you do?

As President of the Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, my role is to lead our team of staff and volunteers working harder and harder to connect more and more people to nature and our oceans to help ensure a positive future.

When did you come to Vancouver?

I moved to Vancouver in 1993 to lead Vancouver Aquarium.

What do you love most about Vancouver?

Vancouver is consistently ranked the best city in the world to live, and I agree. We are fortunate to be surrounded by stunning coastal waters, majestic mountain ranges and flourishing urban centres. These are the same reasons Vancouverites are among the most environmentally conscious and actively seek ways to protect our natural world. This shows in the way local residents engage in conservation programs, such as choosing Ocean Wise seafood or keeping shorelines litter-free by participating in our Great Canadian Shoreline Cleanup.

If you could make one New Year’s resolution for your industry in Vancouver for 2016, what would it be?

We have one blue planet and little by little we are damaging it. As one of Vancouver’s oldest conservation organizations, we’re committed to engaging more and more people to the real threats facing our oceans and providing everyday steps we can all take to help slow down the change so future generations of Vancouverites may continue to experience why ours is truly the best city in the world to live.

See more Vancouverites weighing in with their resolutions for Vancouver in 2016

My Vancouver 2016 is presented by NYE Vancouver, a new annual tradition beginning on December 31, 2015. This New Year’s Eve, let’s celebrate home.