The Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism Society will receive $287,500 in funding to install 54 bear safe garbage containers throughout the region. Black bears and grizzly bears have consistently caused issues in the area.

The funding is being provided through the provincial government’s Destination Development Fund.

“We worked with the local conservation officers, Wildsafe and the URSA Project to find the spaces that needed the bins the most,” Renee Letorneau from the Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism Society says.

The containers will be placed from North Kaslo to the outskirts of Nelson. Areas commonly visited by tourists like campgrounds and trailheads are the focus of this project.

CJLY also spoke with Brittny Anderson, the MLA for Nelson Creston. Anderson says, “our government is really focusing on strengthening rural communities and rural tourism.”

Installation of the containers will begin in spring 2024 and continue throughout the summer.

Listen to the story on CJLY below: