Latest news with #DerekRyder
CTV News
10-08-2025
- Climate
- CTV News
Number of bear warnings, closures in Alberta's Kananaskis Country rises due to bumper berry crop
A sign warning of a bear in the area is shown in Squamish, B.C., Friday, Nov. 4, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Amy Smart According to Alberta Parks, the number of bear warnings and area closures in popular parts of Kananaskis Country is now at 17, an increase of three in a single day. A statement from the Ministry of Forestry and Parks says, 'The prime time for bear activity is from May until October. In July and August, bears are focused on eating as many buffalo berries as they can. This year's crop is much more abundant than it has been over the past several years.' Derek Ryder, a wildlife ambassador with Bow Valley WildSmart, says the berry bushes are found in abundance along the trails. 'It's an edge-loving plant,' he said. 'It lives on the edge of trails, on the edge of day-use areas, on the edge of campgrounds, on the edge of roads — on the edge of everything. And that's exactly where the bears are. It is also exactly where the people are.' One of the areas under a bear warning is in Canmore Nordic Centre Provincial Park, which is in Kananaskis Country. A warning has been in place there since June 26, but Ryder says bear sightings and encounters have been especially active in the past week. 'We've had multiple bluff charges in the last couple of days. There's been half a dozen or more bear spray deployments in Kananaskis Country this week,' he said. 'It's bear after bear after bear. They're all over the place. Black bears and grizzly bears.' Ryder says the bumper berry crop is largely due to weather. 'We had a great amount of rain, but we also had warmth at the right time. And there's also a bit of cyclicality to berry growth — and it just is one of those years. Perfect storm.' Around this time of year, bears will eat about 200,000 berries a day. Due to the increased activity, Ryder and his team have been deployed to the Canmore Nordic Centre to educate people using the trails. Pam Ellenberger, from Edmonton, and her cousin Josy Clarke, visiting from England, are hiking the Grassi Lakes Trail, which currently has a bear warning in place. They stopped by Ryder's booth to learn more. 'This is really important, especially for tourists who don't live here or are knowledgeable. This is very important — that they are aware of what the risks are,' said Ellenberger. Alberta Parks advises people to do the following when on trails: Make noise Travel in groups Be aware of surroundings Watch for signs of bear activity Keep pets on a leash Carry bear spray — and ensure it's easily accessible These are the precautions Howard Mah and his wife say they will now take every time they visit the backcountry, after a frightening grizzly bear encounter in July in Kananaskis Country. 'It was quite frightening and traumatizing, to be honest.' Mah says the bear followed them for a while and lunged at them a couple of times before eventually leaving the trail after he made loud noises. 'You know, my life did kind of flash before my eyes. And I'm thinking, you know, what do I do if he charges?' Ryder says that if people do encounter a bear, they should stop, talk to the bear in a loud voice, and move slowly — not run. 'That creates what's called the pursuit reflex. And because you ran, you're going to get chased. Because that's what prey does.' The Forestry and Parks ministry says it is always looking for new and innovative ways to improve human-wildlife coexistence, including through aversive conditioning — a strategy used since 2000. In a statement, the ministry said: 'Aversive conditioning uses humane techniques like noise, approach and projectiles to reduce human-bear conflicts by teaching bears to be wary of humans and avoid facilities.'
National Observer
11-06-2025
- Politics
- National Observer
Kananaskis: Explaining Alberta's cherished park and G7 host location
For the next week, Derek Ryder will be temporarily divorced from his favourite mountain range and beloved trails in Kananaskis, Alta., so the world's most powerful people can safely gather for the G7 leaders summit. The spokesman for Friends of Kananaskis Country, an environmental stewardship group for the region, has been trekking in Kananaskis Country, informally known as K-Country, since 1976. "I've been basically everywhere," says Ryder, who added he's traversed more kilometres in Kananaskis than he can count. As the G7 leaders prepare for the annual meeting in Kananaskis, which first hosted the summit in 2002, the world's eyes will be on the region's dense forest and jagged alpine. What is Kananaskis? Comprising several provincial parks, Kananaskis was created by former Alberta premier Peter Lougheed in 1978. The Alberta Parks website says Lougheed was convinced to establish the park after a single helicopter ride over the jagged mountains. From above, the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge — chosen as the leaders' residence for the summit — is a mere pinprick surrounded by over 4,000 square kilometres of Rocky Mountain wilderness abutting Banff National Park. Unlike past summits in urban centres, the leaders are to be cordoned off from the outside world. Kananaskis has a small local population of 156, according to the most recent census. "Block one road on two ends, and you pretty much have an isolated world in K-Country," Ryder says. Who will be at the G7? Prime Minister Mark Carney will chair the summit. He is to be joined by: US President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The presidents of the European Council and European Commission usually represent the European Union. A prominent group of invited non-G7 leaders are also to attend, including Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The late Pope Francis was at last year's G7, becoming the first pontiff to address the forum. There's been no public chatter about whether Pope Leo XIV might be in Kananaskis. The three-day summit starts Sunday. How do you get to Kananaskis Village? Kananaskis Village is roughly 75 kilometres southwest of Calgary. It has two entry points. The first is off the Trans-Canada Highway en route to Canmore and Banff. Drivers can otherwise enter through a rural road. Other sections of the park, mostly south of the village, are still set to be open during the summit. Is it similar to Banff? Though it shares a mountain range with Banff National Park, Ryder says the wilderness in Kananaskis has a unique feel that separates itself from the national parks. "To me, it feels less like a museum," he says. The area's popularity has increased over the past decade, adds Trevor Julian, executive director of Friends of Kananaskis. But its relatively quieter trails are alluring to some hikers, he says. Banff, meanwhile, attracts more than four million people every year. "I find there's so many hidden pockets of Kananaskis where you can go for the day — or days — and not see people." Julian says. Are bears a risk? Kananaskis is native bear territory, Ryder says, and the animals happily traverse through Kananaskis Village on any given day. Two layers of fences line the perimeter of the village. Ryder doesn't believe that will keep them out. "Fences, unless they're electrified, don't stop bears from doing anything," Ryder says. But bears are more interested in eating plants than wreaking havoc on talks between prime ministers and presidents, he says. During the 2002 summit in Kananaskis, a bear climbed a tree near the site and, as conservation officers tried to lure it down, the animal fell and died from its injuries. "There's no magic in this," Ryder says. "There's only really good people doing the best job we can." What else should I know about Kananaskis? In 2013, Kananaskis saw hundreds of kilometres of trails washed away by sudden flooding, which also forced out 110,000 people downstream in Calgary. The historic flood wiped out much of the picturesque 36-hole golf course at Kananaskis and took five years to rebuild. Darren Robinson, general manager of Kananaskis Country Golf Club, says a few employees stayed on during the closure. Ryder, who has written a book about the flood, says it "massacred" trails and the road winding through Kananaskis. In some areas, the flood redirected water flows in such a way that former ponds are now dry pits. "It was pretty traumatic," he says. Ryder was among an army of volunteers who helped rebuild trails, bridges and boardwalks, though many trails have permanently disappeared. "In restoring K-Country, I think in a lot of ways, we restored ourselves," he says. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025.
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Kananaskis: An explainer on Alberta's cherished park and G7 host location
A road sign warning of no access to the site of the G7 leaders' summit is pictured in Kananaskis, Alta., Monday, June 2, CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh CALGARY — For the next week, Derek Ryder will be temporarily divorced from his favourite mountain range and beloved trails in Kananaskis, Alta., so the world's most powerful people can safely gather for the G7 leaders summit. The spokesman for Friends of Kananaskis Country, an environmental stewardship group for the region, has been trekking in Kananaskis Country, informally known as K-Country, since 1976. 'I've been basically everywhere,' says Ryder, who added he's traversed more kilometres in Kananaskis than he can count. As the G7 leaders prepare for the annual meeting in Kananaskis, which first hosted the summit in 2002, the world's eyes will be on the region's dense forest and jagged alpine. What is Kananaskis? Comprising several provincial parks, Kananaskis was created by former Alberta premier Peter Lougheed in 1978. The Alberta Parks website says Lougheed was convinced to establish the park after a single helicopter ride over the jagged mountains. From above, the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge — chosen as the leaders' residence for the summit — is a mere pinprick surrounded by over 4,000 square kilometres of Rocky Mountain wilderness abutting Banff National Park. Unlike past summits in urban centres, the leaders are to be cordoned off from the outside world. Kananaskis has a small local population of 156, according to the most recent census. 'Block one road on two ends, and you pretty much have an isolated world in K-Country,' Ryder says. Who will be at the G7? Prime Minister Mark Carney will chair the summit. He is to be joined by: U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The presidents of the European Council and European Commission usually represent the European Union. A prominent group of invited non-G7 leaders are also to attend, including Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The late Pope Francis was at last year's G7, becoming the first pontiff to address the forum. There's been no public chatter about whether Pope Leo XIV might be in Kananaskis. The three-day summit starts Sunday. How do you get to Kananaskis Village? Kananaskis Village is roughly 75 kilometres southwest of Calgary. It has two entry points. The first is off the Trans-Canada Highway en route to Canmore and Banff. Drivers can otherwise enter through a rural road. Other sections of the park, mostly south of the village, are still set to be open during the summit. Is it similar to Banff? Though it shares a mountain range with Banff National Park, Ryder says the wilderness in Kananaskis has a unique feel that separates itself from the national parks. 'To me, it feels less like a museum,' he says. The area's popularity has increased over the past decade, adds Trevor Julian, executive director of Friends of Kananaskis. But its relatively quieter trails are alluring to some hikers, he says. Banff, meanwhile, attracts more than four million people every year. 'I find there's so many hidden pockets of Kananaskis where you can go for the day — or days — and not see people.' Julian says. Are bears a risk? Kananaskis is native bear territory, Ryder says, and the animals happily traverse through Kananaskis Village on any given day. Two layers of fences line the perimeter of the village. Ryder doesn't believe that will keep them out. 'Fences, unless they're electrified, don't stop bears from doing anything,' Ryder says. But bears are more interested in eating plants than wreaking havoc on talks between prime ministers and presidents, he says. During the 2002 summit in Kananaskis, a bear climbed a tree near the site and, as conservation officers tried to lure it down, the animal fell and died from its injuries. 'There's no magic in this,' Ryder says. 'There's only really good people doing the best job we can.' What else should I know about Kananaskis? In 2013, Kananaskis saw hundreds of kilometres of trails washed away by sudden flooding, which also forced out 110,000 people downstream in Calgary. The historic flood wiped out much of the picturesque 36-hole golf course at Kananaskis and took five years to rebuild. Darren Robinson, general manager of Kananaskis Country Golf Club, says a few employees stayed on during the closure. Ryder, who has written a book about the flood, says it 'massacred' trails and the road winding through Kananaskis. In some areas, the flood redirected water flows in such a way that former ponds are now dry pits. 'It was pretty traumatic,' he says. Ryder was among an army of volunteers who helped rebuild trails, bridges and boardwalks, though many trails have permanently disappeared. 'In restoring K-Country, I think in a lot of ways, we restored ourselves,' he says. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025. Matthew Scace, The Canadian Press
Winnipeg Free Press
11-06-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Kananaskis: An explainer on Alberta's cherished park and G7 host location
CALGARY – For the next week, Derek Ryder will be temporarily divorced from his favourite mountain range and beloved trails in Kananaskis, Alta., so the world's most powerful people can safely gather for the G7 leaders summit. The spokesman for Friends of Kananaskis Country, an environmental stewardship group for the region, has been trekking in Kananaskis Country, informally known as K-Country, since 1976. 'I've been basically everywhere,' says Ryder, who added he's traversed more kilometres in Kananaskis than he can count. As the G7 leaders prepare for the annual meeting in Kananaskis, which first hosted the summit in 2002, the world's eyes will be on the region's dense forest and jagged alpine. What is Kananaskis? Comprising several provincial parks, Kananaskis was created by former Alberta premier Peter Lougheed in 1978. The Alberta Parks website says Lougheed was convinced to establish the park after a single helicopter ride over the jagged mountains. From above, the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge — chosen as the leaders' residence for the summit — is a mere pinprick surrounded by over 4,000 square kilometres of Rocky Mountain wilderness abutting Banff National Park. Unlike past summits in urban centres, the leaders are to be cordoned off from the outside world. Kananaskis has a small local population of 156, according to the most recent census. 'Block one road on two ends, and you pretty much have an isolated world in K-Country,' Ryder says. Who will be at the G7? Prime Minister Mark Carney will chair the summit. He is to be joined by: U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The presidents of the European Council and European Commission usually represent the European Union. A prominent group of invited non-G7 leaders are also to attend, including Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The late Pope Francis was at last year's G7, becoming the first pontiff to address the forum. There's been no public chatter about whether Pope Leo XIV might be in Kananaskis. The three-day summit starts Sunday. How do you get to Kananaskis Village? Kananaskis Village is roughly 75 kilometres southwest of Calgary. It has two entry points. The first is off the Trans-Canada Highway en route to Canmore and Banff. Drivers can otherwise enter through a rural road. Other sections of the park, mostly south of the village, are still set to be open during the summit. Is it similar to Banff? Though it shares a mountain range with Banff National Park, Ryder says the wilderness in Kananaskis has a unique feel that separates itself from the national parks. 'To me, it feels less like a museum,' he says. The area's popularity has increased over the past decade, adds Trevor Julian, executive director of Friends of Kananaskis. But its relatively quieter trails are alluring to some hikers, he says. Banff, meanwhile, attracts more than four million people every year. 'I find there's so many hidden pockets of Kananaskis where you can go for the day — or days — and not see people.' Julian says. Are bears a risk? Kananaskis is native bear territory, Ryder says, and the animals happily traverse through Kananaskis Village on any given day. Two layers of fences line the perimeter of the village. Ryder doesn't believe that will keep them out. 'Fences, unless they're electrified, don't stop bears from doing anything,' Ryder says. But bears are more interested in eating plants than wreaking havoc on talks between prime ministers and presidents, he says. During the 2002 summit in Kananaskis, a bear climbed a tree near the site and, as conservation officers tried to lure it down, the animal fell and died from its injuries. 'There's no magic in this,' Ryder says. 'There's only really good people doing the best job we can.' What else should I know about Kananaskis? In 2013, Kananaskis saw hundreds of kilometres of trails washed away by sudden flooding, which also forced out 110,000 people downstream in Calgary. The historic flood wiped out much of the picturesque 36-hole golf course at Kananaskis and took five years to rebuild. Darren Robinson, general manager of Kananaskis Country Golf Club, says a few employees stayed on during the closure. Wednesdays Columnist Jen Zoratti looks at what's next in arts, life and pop culture. Ryder, who has written a book about the flood, says it 'massacred' trails and the road winding through Kananaskis. In some areas, the flood redirected water flows in such a way that former ponds are now dry pits. 'It was pretty traumatic,' he says. Ryder was among an army of volunteers who helped rebuild trails, bridges and boardwalks, though many trails have permanently disappeared. 'In restoring K-Country, I think in a lot of ways, we restored ourselves,' he says. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025.
CTV News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Kananaskis: An explainer on Alberta's cherished park and G7 host location
A road sign warning of no access to the site of the G7 leaders' summit is pictured in Kananaskis, Alta., Monday, June 2, CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh CALGARY — For the next week, Derek Ryder will be temporarily divorced from his favourite mountain range and beloved trails in Kananaskis, Alta., so the world's most powerful people can safely gather for the G7 leaders summit. The spokesman for Friends of Kananaskis Country, an environmental stewardship group for the region, has been trekking in Kananaskis Country, informally known as K-Country, since 1976. 'I've been basically everywhere,' says Ryder, who added he's traversed more kilometres in Kananaskis than he can count. As the G7 leaders prepare for the annual meeting in Kananaskis, which first hosted the summit in 2002, the world's eyes will be on the region's dense forest and jagged alpine. What is Kananaskis? Comprising several provincial parks, Kananaskis was created by former Alberta premier Peter Lougheed in 1978. The Alberta Parks website says Lougheed was convinced to establish the park after a single helicopter ride over the jagged mountains. From above, the Pomeroy Kananaskis Mountain Lodge — chosen as the leaders' residence for the summit — is a mere pinprick surrounded by over 4,000 square kilometres of Rocky Mountain wilderness abutting Banff National Park. Unlike past summits in urban centres, the leaders are to be cordoned off from the outside world. Kananaskis has a small local population of 156, according to the most recent census. 'Block one road on two ends, and you pretty much have an isolated world in K-Country,' Ryder says. Who will be at the G7? Prime Minister Mark Carney will chair the summit. He is to be joined by: U.S. President Donald Trump, French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The presidents of the European Council and European Commission usually represent the European Union. A prominent group of invited non-G7 leaders are also to attend, including Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The late Pope Francis was at last year's G7, becoming the first pontiff to address the forum. There's been no public chatter about whether Pope Leo XIV might be in Kananaskis. The three-day summit starts Sunday. How do you get to Kananaskis Village? Kananaskis Village is roughly 75 kilometres southwest of Calgary. It has two entry points. The first is off the Trans-Canada Highway en route to Canmore and Banff. Drivers can otherwise enter through a rural road. Other sections of the park, mostly south of the village, are still set to be open during the summit. Is it similar to Banff? Though it shares a mountain range with Banff National Park, Ryder says the wilderness in Kananaskis has a unique feel that separates itself from the national parks. 'To me, it feels less like a museum,' he says. The area's popularity has increased over the past decade, adds Trevor Julian, executive director of Friends of Kananaskis. But its relatively quieter trails are alluring to some hikers, he says. Banff, meanwhile, attracts more than four million people every year. 'I find there's so many hidden pockets of Kananaskis where you can go for the day — or days — and not see people.' Julian says. Are bears a risk? Kananaskis is native bear territory, Ryder says, and the animals happily traverse through Kananaskis Village on any given day. Two layers of fences line the perimeter of the village. Ryder doesn't believe that will keep them out. 'Fences, unless they're electrified, don't stop bears from doing anything,' Ryder says. But bears are more interested in eating plants than wreaking havoc on talks between prime ministers and presidents, he says. During the 2002 summit in Kananaskis, a bear climbed a tree near the site and, as conservation officers tried to lure it down, the animal fell and died from its injuries. 'There's no magic in this,' Ryder says. 'There's only really good people doing the best job we can.' What else should I know about Kananaskis? In 2013, Kananaskis saw hundreds of kilometres of trails washed away by sudden flooding, which also forced out 110,000 people downstream in Calgary. The historic flood wiped out much of the picturesque 36-hole golf course at Kananaskis and took five years to rebuild. Darren Robinson, general manager of Kananaskis Country Golf Club, says a few employees stayed on during the closure. Ryder, who has written a book about the flood, says it 'massacred' trails and the road winding through Kananaskis. In some areas, the flood redirected water flows in such a way that former ponds are now dry pits. 'It was pretty traumatic,' he says. Ryder was among an army of volunteers who helped rebuild trails, bridges and boardwalks, though many trails have permanently disappeared. 'In restoring K-Country, I think in a lot of ways, we restored ourselves,' he says. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 11, 2025. Matthew Scace, The Canadian Press
