“Welcome Dr. (Bonnie) Henry the Giant Pacific Octopus!” says an excited Facebook Post from the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea, the only aquarium in Greater Victoria, located in Sidney.
The Island aquarium welcomed the new male octopus on June 18, and he will be called Dr. Henry or Henry. The team describes him as “small and cute”.
Usually, if a new octopus was coming to town, the centre would host a contest to see what the new resident should be called.
“There are times when we just skip the contest and go straight to honouring someone with an octopus namesake. And one of those times is now — to recognize BC’s provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry,” says the centre in the online post.
The aquarium says its members knew they wanted to honour Dr. Henry for the incredible grace, kindness, intelligence, compassion, dedication, and calm demeanour she has shown the province during COVID-19.
“And if the giant in Giant Pacific Octopus wasn’t a clear enough measure of admiration, octopuses have three hearts, a symbol that has come to reflect gratitude for Dr. Henry, healthcare and frontline workers,” said the centre.
The photo above is not a picture of Dr. Henry, but of another octopus named Pebbles that was released in mid-March.
To see Dr. Henry and his 8 arms, the team at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea says you’ll just have to come on down and snap a picture yourself.
This is not the first time residents of B.C. have honoured Dr. Henry in unique ways, B.C. footwear designer John Fleuvog created Dr. Bonnie Henry-inspired shoes to support food banks, back in April.
Rebecca Lawrence
