A long-standing fixture in Victoria’s tourism industry has come to an unexpected halt.
Five Star Whale Watching has announced it has suspended operations after 41 years in business, marking the end of one of the region’s original whale watching companies.
“It is with a heavy heart we share the news that after 41 wonderful years, Five Star Whale Watching has suspended operations,” the company said in a statement shared online.
The company did not provide specific details on what led to the decision, citing “various unforeseen circumstances and reasons out of our control.”
Owned by Andrew Lees, Five Star Whale Watching has been operating in Victoria since the early 1980s and is widely regarded as the longest-running whale watching company in the city.
Over the decades, the company played a key role in shaping the local whale watching industry, particularly around responsible wildlife viewing practices.
Five Star noted it was the first operator in Victoria, and the second in BC, to receive certification from the World Cetacean Alliance as a responsible whale watching operator, a designation focused on sustainability and ethical marine tourism.
Victoria has become one of Canada’s top whale watching destinations, with operators offering tours to view orcas, humpback whales and other marine wildlife in the Salish Sea.
The industry has grown significantly in recent years, attracting visitors from around the world and supporting a number of local businesses.
The sudden suspension of a company with more than four decades of history comes as a surprise within that landscape.
Five Star thanked its staff, partners, and customers for their support over the years, calling the decision “not an easy one.”
It remains unclear whether the suspension is temporary or permanent.
