Port Alberni is 91原创 Island's first city to be officially named a Bear Smart community.
Bear Smart is a provincially funded initiative through the Ministry of Environment to reduce conflict between humans and bears. Asked what it means for Port Alberni to have earned this designation, Bear Smart B.C. executive director Crystal McMillan said it shows that there is a great relationship between the city, and the B.C. Conservation Officer Service and wildlife response agencies.
"There is a great relationship there," McMillan said.
"And the main point that we want to make is that it shows due diligence to reducing human conflict with bears. That's the main thing."
To receive this designation, city staff needed to meet certain criteria 鈥� mostly in the field of reducing bear attractants around Port Alberni. The criteria is set by the province.
"A local government has to take a look at implementing a consistent public education program, so that's managing attractants," McMillan said.
"Then they have to develop and implement a bear resistant and solid waste management system, which they have done a bang up job on.
"They also have to amend their official community documents such as the waste management bylaws and the official community plan to reflect Bear Smart standards."
Port Alberni has met all of the criteria and is still working on better managing attractants.
Chief conservation officer for B.C. Kelly Larkin said that is not an easy task.
"Being Bear Smart takes a whole community," he said at the presentation Friday night at the Alberni District Fall Fair. "No matter what challenges the Port Alberni group faced, they persevered to achieve this special status."
Larkin said, ultimately, bear and human conflict starts with people, and the solution must begin there as well.
The next step, McMillan said, is to improve the local commercial waste system.
"They're starting with some of the high conflict zones that have been identified and they're starting to replace some of those commercial containers for bear resistant models," McMillan said.
Mayor John Douglas was proud of the distinction. He said it is important for the community to be bear smart because of the surroundings of the city.
"A lot of people go out into the forest nearby and utilize the really extensive trail system," Douglas said, "and we want people to be educated as to how to interact with wildlife so that we can live side by side with them and enjoy their presence."
Port Alberni is the fifth city in the province to hold that status.
The announcement was made Friday night at the Alberni District Fall Fair. The city was presented with the designation by chief conservation officer Kelly Larkin and provincial human wildlife conflict co-ordinatior Mike Badry. McMillan commended the work of city engineer Guy Cicon, city planner Scott Smith, city clerk Davina Hartwell and mayor and council for helping the city achieve this designation.
