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Page 6 West Vancouver Historical Society February 2001 By: Anne Vemon FEATURE PRESENTATION REPORT The Preservation of the Spirit Bear Simon Jackson, honoured last Spring by Tune Magazine with the title of "Hero of the Planet", has become over the past few years one of West Vancouver's internationally best known young crusaders. His passion for the preservation of the Kermode Bear species, which make their home only on B.C.'s Princess Royal Island, has been supported by such celebrities as Jane Goodall, Robert Bateman and Robert F Kennedy, Jnr. He has many calls upon his time, but nevertheless took the trouble to come to the West Vancovuer Historical Society's November meeting to share his views and knowledge with us. At a very well attended November meeting, our guest speaker, Simon Jackson, who had just recently graduated from West Vancouver Secondary School, came to share his knowledge with us of a very special species of bear - the Kermode Bear. These beautiful creatures, inhabiting only a very small part of British Columbia's Princess Royal Island, are not found anywhere else in the world, so they are of special interest. Simon is an enthusiast who does an excellent job, together with his beautiful and colourful slides, of taking his audience with him - canoeing up quiet waters and melting into the background to wait for the bears. Are they going to come down to this part of the Island whilst we are patiently waiting? They do. They come to eat and drink and - is it really possible? - do they wish to make contact with these 2-legged creatures who seem to reach out to them with love and sympathy. ... We have the Incredible privilege of sharing our Province with these rare and beautiful creatures . . . The Kermode bears are black but - and here is the magical difference they possess from all other species of bears - among the litters, (about one in every ten cubs), a white bear is bom! Somewhere, somehow, way back in the past, a special "white" gene must have permeated a small group of black bears. Who knows what drove these special ones over the mountains and down into the northwestern temperate rainforest of coastal B.C., but something did, and they eventually found their own place. Today we have the incredible priviledge of sharing our Province with these rare animals long recognised by First Nations peoples as moksgm'oX or "Spirit Bears" - beings to be cherished and protected. So, what are we doing to cherish and protect the "Spirit Bears", you may ask? "Civilisation" has for many years penetrated the bears' territory and, inevitably, clearing and logging over the years has encroached and diminished their world. If something is not done very soon to protect what is left of it, we will be in danger of losing these specisl wild creatures. They really do need our help - and soon. Photo: Joe Mandur Simon is fully aware of the fact that in this modem world some clearing and logging of our wilderness is necessary so that British Columbia can prosper. He also knows that, with care and forethought, men can still earn a living in the woods and not decimate the habitat of our fellow creatures as has sometimes been done in the past. The logging companies themselves are sympathetic to these views but, as can hsppen when bureaucracy becomes involved, it is hard to find a middle way which can accommodate everybody - bears included. The "powers that be" are planning for more logging to be carried out on in the rain forest on Princess Royal Island very soon. Are you concerned? Then Simon asks that you let your voice be heard by phone, letter or fax to The Minister of Environment Parliament Buildings Victoria B C V8V 1W4 Tel: 250-358-2333 Fax: 250-358-7950 Thank you Simon for giving us such an uplifting experience. We wish you every success in your efforts to save "The Spirit Bears" of Princess Royal Island.