PORT HARDY – Bears Place is gaining a foothold in the community. As promised, when they opened the doors Jan. 1, the program is adapting to the needs of the community.
"Obviously there was a need," said Rob Lind. "We are getting a lot of people showing up for indoor soccer and ball hockey. Businesses are beginning to donate and we have taken on a new partner."
The partner that Lind is speaking of is Rediscovery International. The Vancouver based non-profit organization's mission is to "to empower youth of all ages to discover the world within themselves, the world between cultures and the natural world," according to its website.
The organization has stamps of approval from the Royal Commission on Aborignial Peoples and David Suzuki among others. Suzuki said, "Clearly we need a renewed sense of earth as home; belonging to the land, connected to all other living things. Youngsters today have few, if any opportunities to experience the enormity and beauty of the wilderness – Rediscovery offers them that.”
Bears Place, operating out of the Robert Scott gym continues to look for donations from the community and has fund raising events such as their monthly flea market. They reserve the last Sunday of each month for a flea market in the gym. Tables are $15.
The gym also hosts birthday parties.
On the horizon, Lind said they are planning a pot luck dinner for 5 p.m. on Feb. 25th. Farther into the future he sees a talent show as the program's contribution to Filomi Days. Wilderness and urban camps and a recycling program are also on the drawing board for the spring.
The public can view the monthly schedule of activities at Bears Place posted in the window of the Gazette or call Rob Lind at 250-949-0343.