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LETTER: More priority needed on bear-proof garbage bins

Editor: It is disheartening to hear about the three bears destroyed Oct. 3 in Canmore. It was particularly disturbing to learn why they were put down. The Bow Valley has long been recognized as a leader in garbage management with, arguably, one of the

Editor:

It is disheartening to hear about the three bears destroyed Oct. 3 in Canmore. It was particularly disturbing to learn why they were put down.

The Bow Valley has long been recognized as a leader in garbage management with, arguably, one of the best bear-proof garbage management systems in the world.

What many do not know is the commercial businesses of the Bow Valley have not been part of this legacy since bear proof bins were introduced almost 25 years ago. The majority of commercial operators in Canmore and area rent – rather than purchase – their garbage bins from waste management suppliers and while they may appear to be bear proof – they are far from it.

Most have doors that are broken and don’t close properly and have chains that are absent or rarely latched. They do not come close to the definition of what a bear-proof bin should be. In my opinion, they are vastly inferior to the Haul All system used in the residential areas of the town.

For a number of years, an annual assessment was done on the status of commercial garbage bins and the vast majority were deemed to be non-bear proof. When brought to the attention of the Town and commercial businesses – it fell on deaf ears.

I can only hope the current Town council will step up and fix this issue once and for all. After all the effort we have gone through over the years to try and co-exist with wildlife – it is a shame to have to be killing bears because of accessible garbage.

Jay Honeyman,

Canmore

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