The Northern Frontier: Spotting Polar Bears in Churchill

Pack your parka and your sense of adventure: The northern frontier awaits.

From the moment you step off the plane in the remote northern community of Churchill, Manitoba, it’s clear you’re in ‘Polar Bear Country.’ Warning signs inside the tiny airport give tips on how to avoid confrontation with a bear, which can roam into town at any time.

During the fall (around Oct. 10 to Nov. 18), tourists from across the globe flock to the small town on the rugged shores of Hudson Bay, known as the polar bear capital of the world. The bears are waiting for the sea ice to freeze so they can head out in search of their preferred food source: Seal. The bears’ proximity to town provides the perfect opportunity for animal lovers and adventurers to catch a glimpse of these majestic creatures in their natural habitat.

There are many means and methods of making one’s way north, but one of the most efficient is to travel with a local tourism outfit such as our hosts Lazy Bear Expeditions (lazybearlodge.com). Proprietor Wally Daudrich — a native Winnipegger who has been working in Churchill since the fledgling days of polar bear tourism in the 1980s — and his team have thought of everything, so all you need to do is pack your chalet-chic après-ski sweaters, or an entire suitcase full of coordinating red and black Buffalo Check outfits. (Oh. Just me?)

A five-day jaunt may not seem like…

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https://torontosun.com/travel/travel-canada/churchill