The District of Squamish has been chosen as one of 24 B.C communities to receive continued support for the Provincial Bear Aware program. Bear Aware’s mission is to reduce conflicts between people and bears through education, innovation and cooperation. This program is entering its seventh year in Squamish and is available to the District through the Ministry of Environment, a provincial gaming grant and a contribution by the Colombia Basin Trust. It is offered through the British Columbia Conservation Foundation.
“The District of Squamish became only the second community in B.C to earn Bear Smart Community Status from the Ministry of Environment last September,” said Mayor Greg Gardner. “The entire community contributed to this achievement under the leadership of Meg Toom, Squamish’s Bear Aware Coordinator. Ms. Toom was instrumental in this accomplishment and continues to work with the community to increase awareness and understanding of bears and reduce human-bear conflicts in the District of Squamish."
"Receiving Bear Smart status was a result of six years of building partnerships and relationships with numerous community stakeholders. In 2004, 27 bears were destroyed. This was the impetus to implement the Bear Aware Program; we have not only seen a reduction in the number of bears destroyed, 6 in 2010, but we have also seen an increase in public safety and have a cleaner community. It has taken the efforts of the entire community to become Bear Smart and I am very proud that Squamish has received the recognition it so deserves. We are setting the standard for other communities and I look forward to another year of building partnerships with the end goal of reducing human-bear conflicts” said Meg Toom, Squamish Bear Aware Coordinator.
The Ministry of Environment in partnership with the British Columbia Conservation Foundation and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities designed the Bear Smart Community program. It is a voluntary, preventative conservation measure that encourages communities, businesses and individuals to work together.
Squamish residents can report bear sightings and incidents to the 24 hour Conservation Officer Hotline at 1-877-952-7277 (RAPP: Report a Polluter or Poacher).
Bear Aware is always looking for volunteers. Contact Meg at mtoom [at] squamish [dot] ca or at 604.815.5066
Bear Aware has been in existence since 1998, when it was accepted by BCCF to develop the program for delivery around the province of British Columbia. Since that time, BCCF Bear Aware, with consultation and assistance from various experts and specialists, has developed a number of documents that guide communities in how to conduct public education aimed at attractant management to reduce bear-human conflict.
