Southern Alberta wildlife team played a key role at the G7 Summit

As the 2025 G7 Leaders Summit took place in Kananaskis, a team was working behind the scenes to keep animals at bay. Quinn Keenan reports.

The eyes of the world were on Alberta last week with the G7 Summit in Kananaskis Country, but working behind the scenes was a team from the Crowsnest Pass keeping the wildlife at bay.

When it came to people, security around the G7 Summit both before and during the event left nothing to chance.

But while keeping unauthorized people away global leaders was paramount, deterring bears was also important.

That’s where the Canadian Bear Safety Authority came in.

“It is quite the event. I was part of the G7 several years ago, back in 2002, when I was an officer with Fish and Wildlife. So I recently retired a couple years ago and then started Canadian Bear Safety Authority,” said John Clarke, owner of Canadian Bear Safety Authority.

Seven handlers and five dogs -- including Karelian bear dogs, known for their fearlessness -- patrolled the town site during the G7 watching for wildlife that might be getting too close for comfort.

The team came across a grizzly and black bear.

That’s when the dogs were sent in.

“We did work a couple of bears out of an area full of people, and they were really good,” said canine handler, Christy Pool. “They left right away.

“Our dogs were major ambassadors for safe coexistence of wildlife and humans as well,” she added. “They bring a lot of attention to the to the scenarios.”

G7 celebrities

Their dogs became minor celebrities during the summit.

Attendees enjoyed just relaxing and petting the dogs after long days working.

Seven-month-old Luna was particularly well-received.

This was her first time working, but she was able to hold her own.

“Another highlight for me would be how my young pup was able to work on her very first bear and how she did it with a huge crowd of supporters behind her. And she did an incredible job. She didn’t hesitate at all,” said Pool.

It took months of preparation for the wildlife team to prepare, but they’re happy to have been involved in such a major event.

They were able to work with security teams from across Canada and around the world.

Clarke was even able to take the spouses of some of the dignitaries on a hike.

“We got to take foreign dignitaries’ spouses which was the first lady of Canada, Germany, Japan and the EU chancellor’s husband,” Clarke said. “We took them for a walk up to Troll Falls.”