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.
[email protected]http://www.vancouversun.com/newsite/entertainment/010227/5006780.html