North America’s First Whale Sanctuary Canada

An estimated 60 killer whales are being kept in captivity at large marine parks and sea aquariums. Soon, some of them will experience the joys of retirement. (The operation’s headquarters and visitor’s centre are already complete.) The refuge, which will contain underwater nets to keep the whales free but still contained, has a depth of 16 metres and provides the whales with 150 times more space than they’ve known in captivity. After passing the environmental-assessment stage, the site will one day welcome six to eight whales into its waters. —By Flannery Dean