Bear Smart Presentations are provided to special interest groups or conferences by request. You can choose the topic, length of presentation and format (powerpoint, lecture, video, mixed media) that best suits your group. Presentations are both entertaining and interactive, with ample opportunity for questions.

Bears: Myth and Reality
Myths are often passed along from one person to another without being substantiated and soon they become accepted wisdom. It's time to dispel the folklore. Learn more about the true nature of bears and bear behaviour. (length: 1 hour or less, 2 hours)

Bear Encounter Preparedness
Providing an understanding of the bears in British Columbia, both black and grizzly, beyond the fear. This course provides an entirely new view into the bear's world. Before you set out into the wilderness, take time to familiarize yourself with bear behaviour. Know how to react. Make your meeting a safe and enjoyable experience. (length: 2 hours, half day)

Living with Bears in your Backyard: A Resident's Guide to Coexistence
Find out how you can live in harmony with bears in your backyard, sharing the same territory. This workshop focuses on minimizing backyard attractants; appropriate behaviour when encountering an 'urban' bear; and methods for deterring bears from your property. Come and be part of the Bear Smart Solution! (length: 1 hour or less, 2 hours)

Interpretive Walk in Bear Habitat (outdoors)
This 1 - 2 hour walk through bear habitat introduces the participant to the bear's backyard. We will explore well worn bear paths, sunken foot prints, scratches on trees, day beds, feeding sign and scats. If you're lucky we'll even meet one of Whistler's ursine residents. Participants will learn what to do in a bear encounter and discover the secret places they can view bears in the wild.

Working in Bear Country
A comprehensive half day bear safety course that is specifically designed to minimize risk when working in bear country. The course focuses on bear behaviour and reducing human injury and property damage from bears. This course will enable the participant to assess the risks and take the appropriate action when they meet a bear. We will also review field safety, camp safety, bear detection systems, bear deterrents and bear response planning.

Understanding, Mitigating and Managing Black Bear Behaviour
Full day or half day introduction. This workshop is geared to professionals who are involved in attending bear complaints, providing non-lethal management options. We use actual video segments to familiarize officers with the types of behaviours they may encounter on the job. The information gained from this session may be useful to assess situations that will lead to a better understanding of a bear's behaviour and result in decisions by officers that will ensure public safety, officer safety and consideration for the bear. This is a good opportunity for an open discussion of common conflict scenarios or individual situations officers have actually dealt with in the past.

Or, pick your own topic!
We can customize a presentation to suit your needs. We can do formal presentations with a seated audience, fireside chats or simply mingle with your guests at an informal get together. These presentations are a must for anyone interested in bears and the challenges they face. Join us and be part of the bear smart solution!

About the presenters:

Sylvia Dolson, HBA
Sylvia is Whistler's very own 'Bear Lady' and her passion for bears is equaled only by her quest to teach people about the true nature of these wonderful bruins. Her ultimate goal is for people and bears to live in harmony! As a naturalist, wildlife photographer and freelance writer, Sylvia's presentations inspire and inform. She has walked with blacks, grizzlies and polar bears during her many 'bear adventures'.

Sylvia is the Executive Director of the Get Bear Smart Society. She currently co-chairs the Human-Bear Conflict Working Group for BC. and was the key catalyst and contributor for Whistler's Black Bear Management Plan. Sylvia is a leading expert on living with bears in residential communities. As a bear advocate, she has been instrumental in bringing forward more progressive, bear friendly management policies in BC. Her persistent hard work and dedication have resulted in Whistler becoming the first 'Bear Smart' community in North America.

Dan LeGrandeur
As a former B.C. Conservation Officer of 12 years, Dan gained considerable experience in managing human/bear conflicts. Dan was a member of Whistler's Black Bear Task Team and in 1999 implemented Canada's first non/lethal bear management program in Whistler.

He is also the chief training instructor for the Get Bear Smart Society's non-lethal bear management program, providing both in classroom and in the field training to law enforcement officers in Canada and the U.S.

Having worked in a wide range of environments from the urban areas of North and West Vancouver to the coastal and rural areas of southwestern B.C., Dan has gained extensive experience dealing with a wide variety of conflict situations (farming/ranching, urban areas, remote camps) involving both blacks and grizzlies.

His knowledge in all aspects of human/bear conflicts further includes educational training (creating Bear Smart communities, bear safety, etc.) trapping, relocation, and tranquilizing. Dan is also a qualified firearms instructor and has considerable experience conducting training courses and public speaking.

Maple Syrup comes in two sizes: 50 ml and 250ml and is priced at $3.25 and $8.50 per bottle respectively. You can choose the "Whistler" label or a "Canada" label.

Playing Cards: We also carry two versions of Bear Smart playing cards. Both are unique decks of regular playing cards that you can use to play your favourite card games or create new variations on traditional card games. Wholesale cost is $4.50 per deck.

Learn about the 52 Things you DON'T want to do in Bear Country while At Home, Hiking, Camping, and all about General Bear Etiquette.

Get Bear Smart Bruin Trivia Game is designed for kids. Each card contains a Question and Answer to help kids learn all about black, grizzly and polar bears. Adults will enjoy the game too! It's great fun for the whole family.