Special lecture on Spring bear hunt

Nipissing University welcomes Mike Commito to campus for a special lecture on the history and politics of the spring bear hunt in Ontario, on May 13, from 10:30 – noon, in room A257.
The lecture, titled The History of the Ontario Spring Bear Hunt, 1937-2014, will take place in the second-year geography course, Environment & Society.

Commito is completing his PhD in the department of History at McMaster University. His dissertation focuses on the history of black bear hunting and management in Ontario from 1913 to 1989.

The spring bear hunt has a longstanding history in Ontario but many are most familiar with this contentious hunting season because of its cancellation by the Progressive Conservation government in 1999 and its recent return, in a limited capacity, at the hands of the Liberals. Commito's talk will trace the history of the spring bear hunt from its beginning in 1937 to its most recent incarnation, as a pilot project in eight areas of Ontario, including North Bay. The talk will focus on how competing perspectives on science, ethics and location have played an important role in shaping the debate in the province.

Anyone interested in attending should contact Dr. Kirsten Greer, assistant professor of geography and history at Nipissing University atkirsteng@nipissingu.ca.