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Canada has two major aquariums, in Vancouver and Toronto, but if a growing number of ambitious aquatic enthusiasts get their way, a third could be built here in Edmonton.

Part of their vision — which is still in the early stages — is to tell the story of how water travels in Canada, from the snowflakes that fall in the Rocky Mountains to the rivers that drain into the Hudson Bay watershed.

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“We’ve got a story in need of telling,” said Paula Polman, a small business owner who is the driving force behind the project.

She formed the Aquarium Society of Alberta in 2014 and has spent the past few years researching and meeting with volunteers and potential partners to develop her dream.

The aquarium would have three components: a public-facing, year-round tourist attraction with exhibits, tanks, interactive displays and technology; an educational arm with on-site classrooms and outreach for schools and rural areas; and a research centre with labs and internship opportunities. Each would be designed to complement the other. For example, students and visitors could watch scientists doing their research behind glass.