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Norman Norman Churchill Chamber of Commerce Preserving the fragile ecosystem that supports polar bears and other Arctic wildlife is a priority for the company Gunter runs with his wife Lynda and son John. "We are very definitely committed to and focused on the sustainability part, because this is our passion and this is what we do for a living," Gunter says. The polar bear has become an international symbol for global warming. They rely on the Arctic ice as a hunting ground for ring seals, but shorter winters and ice depletion are a threat. Gunter says his company is doing everything it can to minimize its environmental impact and support conservation efforts. A founding strategic alliance partner with conservation organization Polar Bears International (PBI), it supports scientific research for ecosystems, along with educational and outreach programs, with reduced fares for schools and non-profit groups. Gunter says he's sensitive to everything scientists learn about polar bears and supports anything that will help the population remain sustainable. Over the past three years, the company has replaced the engines in most of its all-terrain Tundra Buggies, reducing emissions by at least 50%. Two new sleeper units that let tourists spend the night under the Northern Lights are more heat efficient, with water management systems that allow for recycling of water to supply the toilet system. As much waste as possible is then returned to Churchill's waste management system. The trail system the buggies travel on in the Manitoba Conservation Wildlife Management Area was established by the U.S. military in the 1950s and '60s, and great care is taken to maintain those trails rather than contribute to erosion of tundra. "We've had to invest an awful lot and we really believe that we have an opportunity to show the rest of the world how it can be done in this unique and challenging environment," Gunter says, noting there are no roads to Churchill. While Frontiers North — which lobbied the province in 1998 to put a cap on the number of vehicle permits issued for the wildlife management area — has won awards for responsible tourism practices and as a champion for polar bears, it doesn't call itself an eco-tourism company. "We try to walk the walk instead of talking the talk," Gunter says.   The company is also committed to educating guests about the North's indigenous peoples, culture, history and environment.  And Gunter says guests usually spend a bit of time in the wolf capital of Thompson and in Winnipeg, which will soon be home to the International Polar Bear Conservation Centre at Assiniboine Park Zoo. Polar bears were not on the agenda when the Gunters moved to Churchill in 1982. At the time, Merv was a Royal Bank manager, and he laughs at the extent of the transition he's made. "There's times I often ask myself what the hell I'm doing," he says. "We really just fell in love with the town and the North."  When he was transferred back to Winnipeg in 1986, Lynda started the tour company, which is based in Winnipeg and Churchill and allows them to enjoy both environments. Gunter says guests come from the U.S., Asia, Europe and Australia, and they often wonder if they'll really see a polar bear when they head out on a Tundra Buggy tour. "And they see one and they burst into smiles and laughter and rushing to the windows and getting out the cameras and they turn into children," he says. "It's just wonderful to watch the emotional reaction of people and what they experience when they see this — it's truly phenomenal. That's enjoyable to me sometimes as much as watching bears." www.frontiersnorth.com FLin flon & District Chamber of Commerce Gillam Chamber of Commerce The Pas & District Chamber of Commerce Thompson Chamber of Commerce New & Noteworthy >> The Thompson Economic Diversification Working Group (TEDWG) is creating a branding strategy for the city. TEDWG's local and regional identity subcommittee has launched a community engagement exercise aimed at gathering input from local and regional stakeholders. The group will use the information it gathers to develop a logo and formal branding strategy to be rolled out over the next few years. www.thompson.ca >> The first International Wolf and Carnivore Conference in Thompson drew experts from around the world to share information on research, wolf management and ecotourism opportunities. The October conference is among several Thompson Spirit Way initiatives that will support a plan to build a wolf economy for Manitoba by 2015. >> A former aircraft hangar at Cranberry Portage has been transformed into The Northern Technical Centre for students at Frontier Collegiate Institute and surrounding communities. Students in power mechanics and building and construction trades programs have access to state-of-the-art facilities at the centre, which is expected to help ease a province-wide shortage of skilled tradespeople. MBiz November 2012 11

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