Coming to The Whale Museum
Premiere | October 23, 2026
An immersive augmented reality experience that brings audiences into the world of Southern Resident killer whales in the Pacific Northwest.
Critical Distance is a shared immersive experience using groundbreaking mixed reality (MR) to bring audiences into the world of Southern Resident killer whales in North America's Pacific Northwest.
Experience how Kiki communicates with her family through echolocation, and together face the daily perils threatening her famous ‘J-Pod’. Critical Distance ends with hope, equipping audiences with a mission to help protect Kiki, her family, and her home in the sea.
Please note: Designed for visitors ages 10 and up, Critical Distance features flashing lights and loud noises as part of the experience.
The video runs for 10 minutes, and visitors should also allow time for fitting the AR headset. The total experience typically takes 15–20 minutes.
This exhibition is designed for visitors ages 10 and up, due to the weight of the headset and the minimum eye distance required for comfortable viewing.
Yes, most visitors can wear glasses while using the AR equipment.
Yes, flashing lights and loud audio are part of the experience.
Created by: Adam May, Chris Campkin
Written by: Amy Zimmerman
Produced by: Vision3
Presented by: Nature Canad
In Association with: Alliance of Natural History Museums of Canada
Supported by: SIMRES, Southern Gulf Islands Whale Sightings Network