The Sunshine Coast Bear Network has received private funding for 2011 to roll out its educational "Living with Bears" seminar series.
"We are thrilled that we can bring this valuable resource to the Sunshine Coast again," said Bear Network founder and managing director Gerald Shaffer in a news release. "It has been three years since the Sunshine Coast Regional District stopped funding the program and really, we haven't missed a beat."
This year Salish Soils in Sechelt is the lead sponsor for the Bear Network.
"The partnership is fabulous," he said. "Salish soils is a Sechelt Indian Band business. The bear is considered to be 'the educator' in native folklore. Bears are also the fertilizers of our forests and Erin Joe, the managing director, comes from the Bear clan! It is a wonderful fit."
The provincial Bear Aware program used to educate residents on how to co-exist with bears, but this program this stopped in 2008 due, in part, by the economic slow down.
Shaffer, seeing so many people in need, took his own money and funded his own version of the bear aware program for two years.
"It has been my priviledge to run and pay for the program as the Coast has been very good to my family and it is a way to give something back," he said. "One way we keep the program going is by offering businesses that have staff working in bear country a two-hour course on staying safe. We charge $200 a session which goes a long way to keeping us afloat."
Last year clients such as Lehigh, Sunshine Coast Golf and Country Club, Sunshine Coast Search and Rescue and others all took advantage of the program.
"We also offer free courses to non profits, schools, resident groups and almost anyone in need of bear knowledge," he said. "One of our mainstay programs is helping those in conflicts with bears. There is nothing more upsetting to see families shut in their house because they are too afraid to go outside. We offer immediate intervention and consulting to any residents in need for no cost."
If you are interested in volunteering, would like bear safety information or organize a seminar for your group, call 604-865-0588 or email [email protected].
-Submitted
