The Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat is about to get priceless exposure in the realm of independent films.
A seven-minute documentary, “Stewards of the North”, will be screened next month at the Toronto Independent Film Festival – not to be confused with the TIFF, the international festival in Toronto – and Cinéfest in Sudbury.
Habitat supervisor Brooke Etherington says the director wanted to capture the connections between humans and animals.
“Paradise Theatre now has the tickets available for the Toronto film festival”, she informs us. “It will be screening on the 17th of September. As for the time release in Cinéfest, I believe that’s supposed to come shortly, but tentatively I believe it’s September 23rd.”
Filming was done in January. Etherington says arrangements are being made to screen it in Cochrane.
“Ganuk knows his name. Henry knows his name.”
Etherington says when someone starts working with the bears, they don’t respond to their names. That changes once they get used to your voice and smell.
“When you call his name, he’s ‘hey, she’s not calling me over here for nothing. She’s maybe going to give me something or interact with me in some way, provide me a snack, something like this.'”
Etherington calls the polar bears incredibly intelligent and curious. She enjoys seeing the relationship develop between them and new staff.
Listen to our entire interview below.
