Art Exhibition: GPAG – Deb Willis | Khutzeymateen Shoreline Inhabitants

to Nov 22nd. The Khutzeymateen Valley is Canada’s only grizzly bear sanctuary and the home of one of British Columbia’s most important populations of grizzly bears. Located on the northwest coast of BC, the Khutzeymateen is a stunning land of dense Sitka spruce rainforest, fjords, and high, rugged mountains. Created in 1992 after threats of logging and subsequent lobbying by environmentalists, the Khutzeymateen Park is a pristine wilderness that is home to a minimum of sixty grizzlies, perhaps the largest concentration of grizzlies on the entire BC coast; as well as to black bears, wolverines, wolves, mountain goats, otters, whales, and more. In 2024 Deb Willis travelled by float plane, and then by boat, to the Khutzeymateen Park, approximately 45km northeast of Prince Rupert. She then travelled on a small inflatable boat with seven other passengers and their guide into the southeastern end of the Khutzeymateen inlet to observe grizzlies on the shore as they moved through their daily lives eating, playing, sleeping, and mating at close range.

Grizzly bears are often portrayed in the media as aggressive, man-hunting, fear inspiring animals; these bears, however, present a completely different view. There are only two commercial operators allowed into the sanctuary, and visitation is strictly regulated in order to protect the park and its wildlife. The grizzlies in the Khutzeymateen Sanctuary have never had a negative interaction with a human, and they ignored the visitors’ presence completely, focusing instead on their usual daily activities. Through her artwork, Willis portrays these majestic animals in a new light, and raises awareness of how important it is to set aside lands where these animals can live without human conflict.

An exhibition on display in Joe’s Lounge Oct. 29th – Nov. 22nd. Join us for an Opening Reception on Saturday, October. 31st, 2pm – 4pm. All are welcome!