Backstreet Boys back bears

Kerry Gold Vancouver Sun
(Sent to me by Laura)

While the Backstreet Boys raised the heart rates of 15,000 fans Friday at GM Place, they also raised awareness for the endangered B.C. Kermode bear.

Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson asked his young audience to consider the plight of B.C.'s rare white bear, whose habitat is a proposed conservation area 500 kilometres north of Vancouver. The 400 or so bears are believed to be the only population that remains in the world.

It was a proud moment for Simon Jackson, 18-year-old director of the Spirit Bear Youth Coalition (the Kermode bear is more popularly known as the Spirit Bear). For months, Jackson had lobbied the Backstreet Boys' management company, The Firm, to put him in touch with Richardson so that he could get involved in their cause. Richardson recently started his own environmental foundation.

But it was only just prior to the show -- when Jackson and another coalition member were handing out Spirit Bear posters and stickers outside GM Place -- that word came from the group's tour manager that Richardson was interested in meeting with Jackson.

"His bodyguard got out [of Richardson's car] and said Kevin wanted a poster for his wall," recalls Jackson, who met with Richardson backstage after he and his colleague saw the show (their tickets were a gift from the Backstreet Boys).

During the concert, Richardson announced he'd just been educated by some young people about an endangered species that lives only in B.C., and "anything you can do to help would be appreciated," recalls Jackson.

The band said it would return to Vancouver in the summer as part of a stadium tour. Jackson hopes Richardson will travel to northern B.C. while he's here and observe the bears himself.

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