Bear Smart Statue

July 19, 2012

Bear Smart Statue

Residents may have noticed a metal bear silhouette against the wall near the entrance to our Village plaza.  This placement is temporary for the Lions Bay Bear Smart commemorative statue.  The original design had the statue mounted on a moss covered concrete pad with greenery as a backdrop outside the Village Office/Hall.  Upcoming renovations necessitated an alternate plan. The statue will eventually be moved to the renovated Village Administration Building, but for now it will be displayed at the plaza.  The bear shape looks nice against the rock wall, and there may be many options for placement around the new building. 

Lions Bay received the first provincial grant towards becoming a Bear Smart Community in 2004.  In 2007, Council formed a designated Lions Bay Bear Smart Committee and each subsequent Council enthusiastically supported the committee endeavours.  The Committee, Council and Village Administration dealt with requirements of Bear Smart Community status, including an ongoing bear safety education program, a committee to oversee Bear Smart practices, bylaws that deal with bear attractants, the support of municipal government and administration to change/enforce local bylaws and adjust community planning, and a bear-proof waste system.  In 2010, the Lions Bay Black Bear Management Plan outlining our bear program was submitted to the government.  In 2011, Lions Bay was awarded Bear Smart Community status.  (Anyone interested in reading the bear management plan can read the copy available at Office front desk)

The Ministry of Environment, as part of the Bear Smart Community status, awarded Lions Bay $2000 to create a commemorative statue.  The Bear Smart Committee, after searching for local and then Canadian artists, finally found a U.S. metal artist who creates outdoor bear silhouettes within our budget and commissioned him to fashion our statue from his template.  Jerry Dunbar works in Montrose, Colorado and his work can be viewed on his website www.JDunbar.com.

Note from Norma

It’s been my privilege to work on reducing bear conflicts since 2000 and Chair the Lions Bay Bear Smart Committee since 2004.  Now Council has awarded me with a 2012 Meritorious Service Award for Achieving Bear Smart Status.  Many thanks to Council for thinking of me, especially to Brenda for her kind words during the award handover and to Joanne Ronsley for becoming this term’s Council designate member.  This award may carry my name but Bear Smart status was achieved through teamwork.  My heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to Birgitta von Krosigk and Ruth Simons for their work on our Bear Smart Committee.  We did it together!

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