Brian Key remembers getting his first betta fish when he was about 10 years old. A pet iguana was next. And after meeting his eventual wife Crystal at the age of 16, the passion for animals and aquariums grew.
“At one point we had over 50 tanks in our two-bedroom apartment,” says Crystal. “I’m so glad we have a store now.”
That store is Maritime Fins on Cole Harbour Road in Dartmouth, an aquarium and pet supply store which has been open for about a year. There are over 250 tanks housing over 2000 fish at the store, plus another 50 or so tanks for reptiles.
“I mean, our kids’ first words were fish,” laughs Crystal. “Not Mom, not Dad, but fish. So that helps describe Brian’s passion.”
Brian and Crystal have been building the business over the last year, but they’ve also been building community. They have a bench at Maritime Fins named after one of their regular visitors, Mike’s Bench, where people are encouraged to sit, relax and watch the fish. They have also hosted free interactive learning events for young people in the community.
Now they are helping in another way. The Emergency Department waiting room at Dartmouth General recently received substantial upgrades, including new furniture, device charging stations and a new design for better patient flow. Funding for the waiting room renovation project came as part of a $5 million donation in December from Lisa O’Regan, the largest contribution in DGH history.
The redesign has received extensive praise for being bright, fresh and more comfortable. But there was one lingering question – “where is the fish tank?” The old fish tank had been a popular staple in the waiting room for years.
Enter Brian and Crystal Key, who had personal reasons for believing that a new waiting room deserved a new fish tank.
“I have extensive health issues and so I have spent a lot of time in that Emergency Department,” says Crystal. “Brian would be there with me, and he’d be tinkering and fixing the old tank. He also spent a lot of time watching it to pass the time. Just having it there, it’s calming and relaxing.”
“Aquariums are known for peace and serenity,” adds Brian. “So that’s why we wanted to bring it back, just to offer that again to all the other people coming in.”
Brian measured the designated area to maximize the aquarium’s size and shape. They had the 82-gallon tank built with rounded edges for safety, thicker than usual glass, and with all the filtration equipment in the back to make for a clear view.
Brian has introduced the first round of new residents to the aquarium, with more soon to join. Eventually there will be five different species and close to 20 fish making it their home.
This is all a generous donation from Maritime Fins to the Dartmouth General Hospital, and to the many patients who will be coming through the doors to that waiting room.
“It’s going to be nice and calming,” says Crystal. “Now I know when I go in there it’s going to be less stressful and will feel like home to me, and hopefully to others there. And I will know that’s something we created.”
