The Pender Harbour Ocean Discovery Station (PODS) project in British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast received a $13.4-million boost from the federal government. The facility, expected to be completed in Spring 2027, will create a vibrant hub for aquatic research, community engagement, and cultural programming, while adhering to the highest standards in green building technology.

The net-zero structure will feature interactive exhibits, laboratories, galleries, and performance spaces, with environmental stewardship courses and public programming.

The PODS has been a years-long collaboration between the Loon Foundation and shíshálh Nation to incorporate shíshálh traditional knowledge, western science, and local culture.

Dr. Michael Jackson, executive director of the Loon Foundation, said the project is expected to bolster the Sunshine Coast economy and bring together science, art, and Indigenous knowledge “to spark solutions for our planet’s most pressing environmental and social challenges.”

For more than 20 years, the Loon Foundation has worked to preserve and enhance the biodiversity of the Sunshine Coast and foster environmental stewardship. The shíshálh Nation has been traditionally stewarding the swiya.

“PODS exemplifies Reconciliation in action, demonstrating how collaboration can pave the way for a brighter future for generations to come,” said lhe hiwus (Chief) Lenora Joe, shíshálh Nation.