Several well-known Canadians plan to take part in Wells Gray World Heritage Year events this year, according to Clearwater town council member Shelley Sim.
Speaking at Tourism Wells Gray’s annual general meeting on April 24, Sim said the first of these will be ethnobotanist and anthropologist Wade Davis, who will open this year’s program with a talk in the Pit at Clearwater Secondary School about the sacred headwaters. Date of his presentation will be May 30.
Davis is perhaps best known for his 1985 book The Serpent and the Rainbow, which is about the zombies of Haiti.
Next up likely will be painter Robert Batemen, who will cut the ribbon to open the new education and research station that Thompson Rivers University is building in Upper Clearwater next to Wells Gray Park.
Bateman is world famous for his highly realistic wildlife paintings. He is also a well known naturalist and environmentalist.
Exact date when Bateman will officially open the center has not yet been set.
Possibly the grand finale of the trio will be David Suzuki, who will make the keynote address during the weeklong Speak to the Wild event during the first week of September.
Location for Suzuki’s speech likely will be the top of Green Mountain, Sim said.
The Speak to the Wild event will see well-known writers and others gather and put together a book about Wells Gray Park.
Suzuki is a geneticist who has made a worldwide reputation for himself as a science broadcaster and environmental activist.
A wide variety of other activities and events are being planned for this season’s Wells Gray World Heritage Year, Sim reported.
These include bringing back Nature For Kids, which was formerly put on by the Friends of Wells Gray Park, and the treasure hunt for the golden skull.