Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat offers private tours to attract tourists
The Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat has joined with the Cochrane Tourism Association to provide private guided tours of the facility.
The initiative gives people a chance to learn about polar bears and how climate change affects them while observing the creatures within the enclosure.
“Before they might go extinct -- because of climate change and how endangered they are -- I’m happy to actually see them," said Kaaviayaa Mauyuran, who travelled with her parents from Toronto to learn more about polar bears in person.
Her family booked the Journey into Polar Bear Care experience via the Tourism Cochrane Association, which acts like a travel agent to pair visitors with local attractions.
“We want to really connect and make it a reality -- make what we’re promoting on that website a reality," said Renee Vezeau Beulieu, chair of the Cochrane Tourism Association.
The manager of Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat said eco-tourism and edu-tourism is what she's interested in offering people.
“We absolutely want to bring guests in," said Amy Baxendell-Young.
"We want them to learn, we want them to have a great experience but it’s always going to be about our morals; our values and our bears are always going to be No. 1 and the tourism association is very supportive of that."
Participants on the tour learn about how the bears are looked after, including a peek at where the bears sleep and the food they eat.
“Just to see them like kind of in this natural environment, to actually see them without the cages was just an amazing experience that I’ll never forget," said Mayuran Tharmakulasingam, from Toronto.
This particular tour at the habitat gives people a chance to ask the bear keepers any questions they might have about polar bears in hopes to encourage them to learn not only about the preservation of polar bears, but also to gain newfound respect for all animals.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
'It was joy': Trapped B.C. orca calf eats seal meat, putting rescue on hold
A rescue operation for an orca calf trapped in a remote tidal lagoon off Vancouver Island has been put on hold after it started eating seal meat thrown in the water for what is believed to be the first time.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
B.C. judge orders shared dog custody for exes who both 'clearly love Stella'
In a first-of-its-kind ruling, a B.C. judge has awarded a former couple joint custody of their dog.
Saskatoon police to search landfill for remains of woman missing since 2020
Saskatoon police say they will begin searching the city’s landfill for the remains of Mackenzie Lee Trottier, who has been missing for more than three years.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.