Spirit Bears in the City - Project Overview

Spirit Bears in the City - Project Overview - Surrey / White Rock

What is Kermode Spirit Bears In The City?

Found only in British Columbia’s northern forests, the rare "Spirit Bear" or "Kermode Bear" is widely recognized for its unique white colouring. A First Nation legend states that the Raven, their creator, made these bears white as a reminder of the time when the world was pure and clean and covered with snowdrifts and ice blue glaciers. Raven promised that these bears would live in peace and harmony forever.

The NOW Newspaper 'I Love Surrey' campaign is pleased to present 'Spirit Bears In The City' to the residents of Surrey. In the New Year this reclusive bear will begin to congregate on city street corners.

Spirit Bears In The City is a public art project of the BC Lions Society for Children with Disabilities in support of Society’s Easter Seal Operations. The project has already taken roots throughout BC with the eight communities committed to joining "The Spirit Bear Trail" – Vancouver, Surrey, Vancouver Island, Prince George, Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, and Whistler.

Here's how it works...

Local artists, in partnership with sponsoring individuals or organizations, will create a unique design and apply it to the surface of a life size (approx. 7ft) custom formed fiberglass Kermode Spirit Bear. The Bear becomes the artist’s canvas. Once the work is complete, the Kermode Spirit Bear will be displayed in prominent public spaces around the participating cities. A 'Kermode Spirit Bear Trail Guide' will be created and distributed throughout participating communities.

'Kermode Spirit Bears In The City' is modeled after other successful community art projects, such as Chicago’s 'Cows on Parade', Toronto’s 'Moose in the City' and most recently The Lions Society’s Vancouver and Victoria’s 'Orcas In The City'.

Chicago's
'Cows on Parade'

Toronto's
'Moose in the City'

Vancouver's
'Orcas in the City'

Victoria's
'Orcas in the City'

The goals of 'Kermode Spirit Bears In The City' are very simple:

To create an event that provides maximum exposure to sponsoring organizations, artists and recipient charities
To invite tourists from around the world to visit our province and share in our culture
To produce an event that encourages the 'Arts', local businesses and individuals to come together in a Kermode Spirit of community fundraising, benefiting the important work of the BC Lions Society’s Easter Seal Operations
To generate artistic creativity and showcase BC artists
To celebrate the cultural diversity of our province and promote civic pride
To capture the imagination of children, adults, and tourists alike

The Kermode Spirit Bear was chosen to embody the West Coast and to highlight that the Pacific Coast of British Columbia is the only place in the world to view the Kermode Spirit Bear. The Kermode Spirit Bear exhibit will be on display from May through to October 2006.

To introduce the exhibit we will be holding exciting unveiling events in 2005 and 2006 in participating cities, where the finished Kermode Spirit Bears will be presented to the media, the public, invited guests and public officials.

The exhibit will end with the great 'Kermode Spirit Bear Auction', a gala event where the Kermode Spirit Bears will be put on the block and auctioned to the highest bidder. Kermode Spirit Bear auction proceeds will benefit the BC Lions Society’s Easter Seal Operations.

Net proceeds raised for the BC Lions Society in The NOW 'I Love Surrey" Spirit Bears in the City project will go to the BC Lions Society's Easter Seal operations to be used for services benefiting Surrey children with disabilities. The Lions Society will issue all charitable receipts as needed.