Victoria’s Seal-ebrity
August 20th, 2025
Emerson the Elephant Seal (Harbour Publishing $24.95) is a lively picture book for ages 3–5 inspired by the true tale of a 500-pound juvenile elephant seal who repeatedly returned to Victoria, BC—despite the best efforts of wildlife officials to relocate him. Born in January 2022 on Bowman Bay in Puget Sound, Emerson became a local celebrity after spending weeks moulting on Oak Bay Marina Beach before venturing onto grassy boulevards and city roads. In Ngo’s playful imagining, readers follow Emerson as he explores Victoria’s most iconic spots—perhaps sampling smoked salmon tea sandwiches at the Empress, rolling through the Butchart Gardens, or taking in the grandeur of the BC Parliament Buildings—while inviting young readers to wonder what drew him back again and again.
Born and raised in the Philippines, with Chinese roots and a third-culture childhood, Ginger Ngo is a Vancouver-based illustrator and graphic designer who draws inspiration from her multicultural upbringing and active sketchbook practice. She is a proud immigrant from the “Pearl of the Orient Seas” and has illustrated a range of works, including Adventures in Desolation Sound (Harbour, 2024) by Grant Lawrence. Her digital illustrations carry the richness of traditional mediums, infused with texture and calligraphic movement. In Emerson the Elephant Seal, Ngo captures both the whimsy of a wayward marine mammal and the joy of the community that embraced him, blending visual storytelling with a love of place that will delight Victoria’s youngest residents and visitors alike.
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Question: Hey Emerson, why Victoria for your moulting season? Do you have friends there?
Emerson: No comment.
Q: Your illustrations are so delightful. Have you ever met Emerson in person?
Ginger Ngo: Thank you! Well, as you know, Emerson is a very hot seal-ebrity. Unfortunately, he always had an entourage and security detail. I wasn’t allowed to speak to him directly or make eye contact. I mainly did my research based on other people’s accounts of their experiences with Emerson. He is a well-documented public figure, though. Like the Beatles or Madonna. He made it easy to do my job.
Q: Why do the citizens of Victoria find you so appealing? Is it your sweet personality or your impressive physique?
E: I will have to refer that question to my lawyer.
G: I, for one, think it is his stoic attitude to life. We should all strive to be more like Emerson.
Q: The illustrations and the colour palette in the book are wonderful. You really captured the charm of Victoria and Emerson’s good looks!
G: Thank you again! One can only do so much to capture natural perfection (for both Victoria and Emerson’s figure), but I’m glad I got this close. As a Canadian immigrant myself, one of my first ever visits to BC was Victoria. I did all the same tours and sightseeing as Emerson did, and I really wanted to illustrate the new tourist’s first magical impression of our provincial capital. There were so many places and not enough pages!
Q: How was the swim last year from Barkley Sound to Victoria? Any interesting stops on the way?
E: I will have to refer that question to my PR rep. There might be some sponsorship opportunities in my future, but I’m not allowed to talk about it.
Q: Why do you think Emerson likes to travel?
G: I can’t speak for Emerson (due to agreements with his legal team), but I think this part of BC where he explored is super special because of the people he’s met. There is always something new to learn when we step out of our bubbles. Travel makes us more friendly and open and lets us connect to each other. Emerson’s antics brought together a community of people who care deeply about wildlife and nature. It shows in their actions and how warmly they spoke of Emerson.
Q: Is it true you love getting your picture taken? Do the other elephant seals know that you are a celebrity. Any jealousy?
E: I love getting my picture taken but on the advice of my manager, please no selfies. There is no jealousy from other elephant seals, we are a peaceful and supportive community. However, don’t get me started about otters. One of them threw a rock at me once.
Q: The image of Emerson at the spa is a classic. It’s like you followed him around Victoria last year. He went everywhere.
G: Ah, well, until someone builds a massage table big enough for an elephant seal, Emerson will have to relax au naturel. The great thing about Victoria is how accessible and walkable it is. Even for someone who has to galumph like Emerson, it’s fairly easy to see two or three major tourist sites in a day. You can go from the harbour at the Fairmont Empress to Chinatown within half an hour, and the walk itself is beautiful! I myself don’t have a vehicle, and I am able to get around no problem!
Q: Any message to the fine people of Victoria? Will you be back?
E: I love you all! And I might be back. I’ll refer that question to my manager.
Q: Although this is a picture book aimed at kids, I think adult Emerson fans will enjoy it too. What do you think?
G: I was about Emerson’s age when I first visited Victoria, and it left a deep impression on me. Coming from the Philippines, where snow didn’t exist and flower parks and gardens were difficult to access, my first visit to Victoria took my breath away. Along with the people I met, I truly felt the warmth of a Canadian welcome. Those kinds of memories don’t fade as we get older. I think they even become more vivid as we become adults. I do hope that the people who read this picture book not only get to meet Emerson, but that they see themselves as the wonderful, friendly, quirky, and happy Canadians that we are. We treat our neighbours well and with respect here in Canada. I think that’s really the reason why Emerson kept coming back. He just can’t help it! 9781998526345
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