Mark Loria has announced his departure as executive director of the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea in Sidney.

In a letter emailed to B次元官网网址渄onors, partners and friendsB次元官网网址� on March 21, Loria stated that his last day on the job will be April 21 of this year. Holding the position in an interim capacity will be Deputy Director, Operations, Deanna Mathewson.

Loria has been the executive director at the Shaw Centre for the Salish Sea for three years. Under his tenure, the Centre redesigned its website, renovated its space and underwent a rebranding from its previous identity as the Shaw Ocean Discovery Centre. The change saw the Centre adopt more of an emphasis on the Salish Sea and the First Nations that surround it.

In his letter, over that time the Centre saw an increase in visitors of 10 per cent and a membership program that they had started in 2016, grow by 60 per cent to 8,500 members. An additional $250,000 was raised from the community for project funding related to education programs and experience upgrades.

Coming up next at the Centre will be new displays about the Salish Sea and the second of two Coast Salish indigenous art installations. A First Nations art collection is also part of the CentreB次元官网网址檚 ongoing commitment to enhance peopleB次元官网网址檚 knowledge of the culture and traditions of the First Peoples of the Salish Sea.

B次元官网网址淚 believe we have become a true leader on Vancouver Island in the learning, exploration and conservation of the Salish Sea Bioregion,B次元官网网址� Loria wrote.

B次元官网网址淚 would like to thank all of the volunteers who have dedicated their time and skills as board members and especially to those many Salish Sea Explorers who interact with our visitors on a daily basis B次元官网网址� the Centre could not operate without you.B次元官网网址�

Loria was the CentreB次元官网网址檚 third executive director since 2013, after founding executive director Angus Matthews departed.

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Matthews was replaced by Alison Barratt in March, 2014.

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Loria replaced Barratt one year later, in July of 2015, after serving as Development Director.