Fun at the Aquarium du Québec

Our son loves aquariums and marine animals, so naturally, if there is an aquarium attraction in the city, we would certainly be there. We took him to the ones in Vancouver, Toronto, Montréal, and now in Québec City.

Our then-six-year-old boy was beyond thrilled.

Sprawled across 16 hectares and overlooking the stately Pont de Québec that span the Saint-Lawrence River, the Aquarium du Québec has a collection of nearly 10,000 specimens representing 300 species of indigenous and exotic fish, as well as invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, birds, molluscs, and mammals, with a special focus on boreal and Arctic wildlife.

Inside the main building, there were separate sections to see all kinds of sea life – fresh water, salt water, tropical, and coastal (both Pacific and Atlantic) where visitors are given the opportunity to interact and touch the starfish, sea urchins, hermit crabs, sea cucumber, and more. But the main attraction is the Awesome Ocean exhibit where visitors walk through a tunnel inside a 350,000-liter sea water tank to see marine life from the vantage point of a diver.

My personal favourite was the Pavillon des profondeurs, where light effects highlight the ethereal beauty of jellyfish in their changing hues, the elegance of the seahorses, and the gracefully gliding stingrays. My boys loved the Touch Basin where Atlantic stingrays playfully swam around, and visitors were allowed to touch them. Some stingrays were quite friendly…approaching the children’s hands and lingering for their touch. There were even a handful of playful ones that would splash water on you! There is also a Discovery Corner where visitors can get acquainted with their resident amphibians and reptiles, which of course, I avoided since I do not like reptiles.

On the top floor, you will find a section called Scientific Crossroads that showcases how the work done in this facility contributes to marine biology and research in Canada. At the atrium, my boys tried the Hurricane Simulator which was a small booth similar to a phone booth. Once locked inside, you will be treated to a strong gush of wind that mimics a hurricane onslaught.

At the time of our visit, there was also a temporary exhibition in a room close to the entrance which we also checked out. The Aquarium du Québec was hosting a part of the Biodôme de Montréal’s collection of Amazonian fish – stingrays, catfish, and the infamous red piranhas. What an awesome bonus!

But the most fun part was going outdoors and watching the animal shows – the polar bears, brown bears, seals (grey and harbour seals frolicking among the waves in the Banks of Saint-Lawrence section and the harp seals in the Arctic Sector), and walruses (Pacific and Atlantic species) that were too funny and too naughty!

We got a soaked during the walrus show for it was hosted by a couple of wranglers dressed in funny costumes and wielding water pistols, which of course, they aimed at the unsuspecting audience. The walrus family didn’t let themselves be outstaged either. They had a few tricks up their sleeves which made all of us laugh…and they made sure they did their share of splashing water on us. But we did not mind getting wet on a hot, humid day was a lot of fun.

We also saw birds and mammals – arctic foxes, owls, and parrots and in the Wetlands Section, there was a collection of birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects, and plants that showcases the ecosystem of the Saint Lawrence corridor.

The whole complex was laid out with the family in mind. There is a picnic area, playground, a water splash park (with water jets and interactive water cannons) to cool off during the summer, a child-friendly tree-to-tree circuit where kids could practice their climbing skills, a pretty little park with a pond and wooden bridges, a garden with sand sculptures, and an outdoor food court with a sit-down restaurants and several food vendors – Beaver Tails, sandwiches and hotdogs, popcorn, ice cream and frozen treats, and sweets. Inside, there is a cafeteria, plenty of washrooms, and a spacious nursing station. The facility is also wheelchair and stroller friendly.

It was a morning of fun and wonder. Having a toddler is such a joy because parents like us get to relive our childhood.