Great Bear Rainforest photographer urges a halt on tar sands oil
“The Great Bear Rainforest really stands in the way of Asia’s insatiable demand for oil and gas," says veteran coastal wildlife photographer Ian McAllister.
Photo by Ian McAllister from Great Bear Wild: Dispatches from a Northern Rainforest, published by Greystone Books.
One of his favourite shots is a rare white bear cub sandwiched between two black bears. The mother bears have a recessive gene that can produce white or black offspring, he said.
“You can have a white mom with a black cub, and vice versa.”
Protect this coast from oil urges photographer
McAllister said Canadians have an important decision to make about whether they want to protect this precious ecosystem from Alberta’s pipelines.
“Are we going to increase tar sands production, climate-changing production in Alberta, build these thousand-mile long pipelines, and place this amazing rainforest at risk, just to feed cars in Asia?”
“I think this book illustrates why people feel so passionately about this coast, and why people don’t want tankers here.
"It’s because this area still provides so much life, there’s still so much wild life, there’s humpback whales returning, fin whales are returning."
"First Nations are creating sustainable economies, so are stilling living in the village sites that have lived in for 10,000 years.
"We have everything to lose here.”
Proceeds for the book go to Pacific Wild – a wildlife conservation effort on the B.C. coast.
Starting October 22, McAllister will travel Canada-wide and internationally to share his stories.
Tour dates and ticket information
October 22 | Whistler Public Library 7pm 4329 Main St, Whistler, BC | By Donation |
October 23 | Squamish, public Library 6:30PM | By Donation |
October 24 | Vancouver, Canadian Memorial United Church 7PM 1825 W 16th Ave, Vancouver, BC | By Donation |
October 26 | Town Hall Seattle , Washington 7:30PM Doors open at 6:30 Downstairs at Town Hall - Enter on Seneca Street | CLICK HERE to purchase tickets - $5 FACEBOOK SITE - Please share and invite your friends and family |
October 27 | Bainbridge Island, Washington, 7 PM Eagle Harbor Books | FREE Visit Eagle Harbour Book Co. for more information about this event |
October 28 | Portland Audubon Society 7:30PM 5151 NW Cornell Rd, Portland, OR | Free - CLICK HERE for more information |
October 30 | Portland Patagonia Store 7PM 907 NW Irving St, Portland, OR | TBA |
November 3 | Vernon, B.C. - Okanagan College, Vernon Campus 7:30pm Science in Society Speaker Series 7000 College Way, Vernon, BC | Tickets - $7 in advance $10 at door |
November 6 | Banff Mountain Film and Book Festival The Banff Centre, Max Bell Auditorium 2PM | Tickets - $15 Purchase tickets by following this LINK FACEBOOK EVENT SITE |
November 8 | The Juniper Hotel, Banff, AB 6-7:30 PM | Special Event - Fireside Chat $35 Ticket includes refreshments and appetizers Contact The Juniper Hotel View on The Banff Centre website FACEBOOK EVENT SITE |
November 12 | Victoria, Alix Goolden Hall 7:30PM 900 Johnson St, Victoria, BC | General Admission - $12 BUY TICKETS HERE FACEBOOK EVENT SITE ALIX GOOLDEN HALL WEBSITE |
November 13 | Duncan - Quw'utsun' Centre, BC Quomeakin Room - 7PM 200 Cowichan Way, Duncan | By Donation FACEBOOK EVENT SITE |
November 14 | Sidney, BC Charlie White Theatre 7:30PM 2243 Beacon Ave, Sidney | General Admission - $12 CHARLIE WHITE THEATRE TICKET SALES FACEBOOK EVENT SITE |
November 18 | Galiano Island, BC Galiano South End Hall- 7:30PM | By Donation FACEBOOK EVENT SITE |
November 19 | Campbell River, BC Tidemark Theatre 7:30PM 1220 Shoppers Row, Campbell River | General Admission - $12 THE TIDEMARK THEATRE TICKET SALES Special guest introduction by award winning author, journalist and energy expert Andrew Nikiforuk. FACEBOOK EVENT SITE |
November 20 | Courtney, BC The Sid Williams Theatre 7:30PM 442 Cliffe Ave, Courtenay | General Admission - $12 SID WILLIAMS TICKET SALES Special guest introduction by award winning author, journalist and energy expert Andrew Nikiforuk. FACEBOOK EVENT SITE |
November 21 | Powell River, BC The Max Cameron Theatre - 7PM 5400 Marine Ave. Powell River | Ticket Sales TBA FACEBOOK EVENT SITE |