It’s an unprecedented time on planet earth. As communities around the world face an increased level of uncertainty and fear in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re seeing a great deal of change. Witnessing humanity’s ability to retool and readjust for the betterment of all is truly inspiring. Only together are we able to solve big problems and issues such as this but the actions we’ve already seen prove that it’s possible.
At Pacific Wild, we are thinking about all those fighting this virus directly as well as their family members. Our hearts are with you. To everyone working on the frontlines of this pandemic in an effort to keep people safe and healthy, please know how grateful we are.
Just as is the case in environmental crises, we know positive change will not happen unless we work together. Now is the time to take this epidemic seriously, support each other and prioritize smart decision making. It’s the only way we are going to stand a chance at flattening the curve and avoiding the catastrophic impacts seen in other places in the world.
Pacific Wild’s leadership has taken steps to support its team and its community. Our priority right now is to ensure that we maintain a healthy working environment and ensure the continuity of our collective environmental voice. While there are lots of activities that we can’t be doing right now, there are still plenty that we can do and will do.
Our small, dedicated team has always maintained its ability to work flexibly and in remote environments. Given the changing circumstances in our society, we have taken the following additional measures to ensure our team members stay safe while simultaneously supporting our membership, family, and friends:
- We have temporarily closed our main Victoria office location and our Victoria-based staff are working from their homes. The main telephone number (250-380-0547) has been forwarded to one of our team’s cellphones so we don’t miss a call.
- With IMAX theatres closed around the world, The Great Bear Rainforest–Land of the Spirit Bear has gone into temporary hibernation, too. Once it is safe to do so, screenings of this award winning film will resume–hopefully at an IMAX theatre near you.
- While you can’t get to a theatre right now, there are a number of behind the scenes videos you can check out and share with others.
- In light of public gathering restrictions, we have momentarily suspended our in-person community outreach events and will move to online, digital opportunities to highlight and expand our active campaigns to Save Pacific Herring, Protect Wild Salmon and Stop the Killing of BC Wolves.
For those who have extra time on their hands and have young ones who want to engage in digital wildlife education and conservation resources:
- Consider checking out our Great Bear Rainforest Educator’s Guide; our Sea Wolves Educator Guide; and our Salmon Bears Educator’s Guide.
- You will find dozens of our videos on Pacific Wild’s website that can prompt great discussions and opportunities for further online exploration.
- For other educational opportunities, check out Pacific Wild’s Marine Protection Hub and learn more from under the surface.
- To learn more about wild wolves in British Columbia and how you can help protect them, check out our online community, The Call. Here, past, current, and future wolf defenders come together with the common goal of advocating for the conservation of B.C.’s wolf population.
It’s difficult to envision what the world will look like after this crisis comes to an end. We’re already seeing many stories in traditional and social media of nature bouncing back as humankind takes a pause. Maybe after this is all over, we’ll see the value in giving the natural world space to breath. Maybe we’ll finally slow down our destructive treatment of wild spaces. It may seem like an unrealistic dream but our recent actions as a species prove that it’s possible. In the meantime, we at Pacific Wild will continue to share stories that inspire those to protect wildlife and wild spaces on Canada’s west coast.
On behalf of our Executive Director, Ian McAllister, we want to thank you so much for all of your continued support and the inspiration you provide us. We believe in our communities, their resilience and resolve. We will get through this, together, and we have to believe that Nature will benefit from this global pause and our thoughtful introspection of how we impact and interact with wildlife.
Stay safe,
The Pacific Wild team