Have you ever wondered why we named our organization Ghost Bear?

In Opinion / Stories from the Field

For two decades, the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition underscored the power of one person – to learn, to listen, to act.

Six million young people from every corner of the globe and from every walk of life chose to learn about the plight of an endangered bear – Canada’s white Kermode, also known as the spirit or ghost bear.

The lessons they learned dared them to listen to diverse, divergent perspectives ensuring that their collective voices did more than shine a light on a problem, but offered up solutions of their own.

Their solutions were imperfect, just like the movement, but when all was said and done, they helped create the conditions that saved the bear.

Why?

It was a campaign that never sought to create enemies. By working to heal the wounds that divide, this movement was able to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders to create a lasting solution that could make every citizen proud.

With the spirit bear saved, the Youth Coalition was able to put itself out of business, for it completed its mission, but its legacy remains. When we learn, listen and act, anything is possible.

Our journey has been informed by this ideal and it’s this ideal that is the foundation on which Ghost Bear Institute is built. And by naming our non-profit in honour of the movement created through the Youth Coalition, we hope to help inspire, educate and spark a new generation to foster a better balance between people and nature.

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