In 2001, Dean Wyatt, founder of Knight Inlet Lodge, was told that if the bear-viewing industry wanted to be heard by the government, it needed a unified voice. Determined to make an impact, he reached out to the industry and founded the Commercial Bear Viewing Association (CBVA) with five operators, quickly expanding to twelve. Through years of dedication, collaboration, and advocacy, the CBVA became the leading authority on bear viewing in British Columbia.

With guidance from bear biologist Grant MacHutchon, the CBVA developed our Best Practices and a certification program for guides, evolving from Assistant and Full Guide designations to the current Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 certifications, ensuring the highest standards of ethical and sustainable bear viewing.

By 2016, the CBVA had grown to the point where it could hire a full-time Executive Director to represent the industry and advocate at the government level.

Years of collaboration with First Nations, conservation organizations, and policymakers, along with CBVA’s compelling economic data on the value of bear viewing, contributed to a historic win: the closure of the grizzly bear hunt on December 18, 2017.

Our Mission Today

Now representing 26 members, the CBVA remains committed to protecting wild bears and their ecosystems by ensuring the bear-viewing industry’s voice is heard at government discussions and policy-making tables. Through advocacy, education, and industry leadership, we continue to promote ethical and sustainable wildlife tourism in British Columbia.