Black Bear Attack in Northern BC
The BC Conservation Officer Service responded to a black bear attack at a remote mineral exploration camp north of Prince George. The attack took place shortly after 10 p.m. Monday, May 31 during camp set-up.
The victim was Gil Graham, who has been working in exploration in BC for more than 40 years as a technician, and is familiar with the site.
He received non-life-threatening puncture injuries, was treated medical treatment on-site and was transported to hospital in Prince George. The bear was killed by another worker after the attack.
Conservation Officers flew into the attack site June 1 as part of the investigation; to collect evidence and interview witnesses, and to ensure there was no public safety risk. The investigation determined that this was a surprise attack.
Gil, who is a long time AME supporter, is expected to make a full recovery. There is a fundraiser page to help with Gil’s rehabilitation; learn more here.
For bear safety resources, visit the Government of BC bear safety web page, and review the chapter on Wildlife in AME’s Safety Guidelines for Mineral Exploration in Western Canada.
COVID-19 Vaccinations – Guidance for Mineral Explorers
As BC enters Step 2 of its Restart Plan, all British Columbians are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated. If you have not already done so, register to be alerted when it is time to book a vaccine appointment for your first or second dose.
To empower local partners in Northern BC including workplaces to share helpful information, Northern Health has created the COVID-19 Community Toolkit, a digital resource for community partners with 3 key goals:
- Get more people registered for their vaccine
- Highlight the community benefits of getting vaccinated
- Provide direction to trusted sources of information about vaccines and COVID-19
AME members active in Northern BC are encouraged to use and share this resource.