The District of Squamish and Bear Aware are inviting the community to the second annual bear awareness community event Saturday (Sept. 19) from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Adventure Centre.
The fun, family friendly community event is intended to teach kids and grown-ups alike about Squamish's unique natural setting, its inhabitants and programs dealing with black bears and other wildlife. It also provides an opportunity to meet the different organizations that work together for the community's environment.
"This event encourages both resident and visitor to connect with nature and will help to foster sustainable behaviour," stated Mayor Greg Gardner in a press release. "Learn about the progress the District of Squamish has made towards becoming a Bear Smart community, and talk with community groups and organizations about their involvement with and promotion of environmental awareness within the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada."
From 11 a.m. to noon, the Adventure Centre theatre holds a screening of Living in Bear Country.
And from noon to 12:45 p.m., photographer and researcher Michael Allen presents a slideshow illustrating the foraging behaviours and relationships between weight gain, berries, and cubs amongst the longest studied black bear population at Whistler.
Kids can make crafts, playing in a bouncy castle, listening to bear stories and having a chance to win prizes. They may also enjoy meeting various bear mascots, including the RCMP Safety Bear and the Coast Guard's Polar Bear, Putka. The mascots will be giving out bear hugs in support of the black bears in the community.
Visitors will receive a "passport to learning" upon arrival, and will receive a stamp at each community booth. Once passports are complete, participants can enter it to win a gift basket.
And visitors can bid on a silent auction for two tickets to wildlife viewing in Whistler with Michael Allen, bear researcher valued at $370. Also on the auction block is a wooden bear carving valued at $250 and four Grouse Mountain general admission tickets, which includes grizzly viewing, raptor show and more, valued at $151.80.
