Canada’s federal government is investing more than $13.4 million (USD$9.53 million) on a new net-zero facility, Pender Harbour Ocean Discovery Station (PODS), which will incorporate shíshálh traditional knowledge, western science, and local culture to promote environmental stewardship and celebrate the region’s biodiversity
PODS is a collaboration of the Loon Foundation and shíshálh Nation. According to its website, the project hopes to equip the community with the necessary facilities, tools, resources and expertise to conduct aquatic research and monitoring and use the results to guide decisions that help maintain and enhance coastal biodiversity.
“PODS will offer a vibrant community hub where science, art, and Indigenous knowledge intersect to spark solutions for our planet’s most pressing environmental and social challenges,” said Dr. Michael Jackson, Executive Director of the Loon Foundation. “PODS enables us to advance meaningful opportunities for all, bolstering the Sunshine Coast economy, enriching Pender Harbour, and opening new horizons for generations to come.”
The facility, expected to be completed in Spring 2027, will be a net-zero structure featuring interactive exhibits, laboratories, galleries, and performance spaces, as well as aquatic research and environmental stewardship courses and public programming.
lhe hiwus (Chief) Lenora Joe, shíshálh Nation said, “PODS exemplifies Reconciliation in action, demonstrating how collaboration can pave the way for a brighter future for generations to come.”
