On December 12th, 2004, revered artist, conservationist. Simon Combes was tragically killed by a charging Cape buffalo while hiking near his home in Kenya. Simon was widely respected as a man of superb artistic talent, as a brilliant communicator, writer, instructor, world-traveler, painter, and as a steward of our planet. We were honoured to have had him as a member of Artists for Conservation.

Last month, AFC completed its 4th annual Artists for Conservation Festival, celebrating nature's beauty and diversity with a spectacular art exhibit and a host of inspiring art and environmental education programs. The event welcomed public of all ages with a variety of interests - fine art, environment and conservation.

AFC artist Kitty Harvill set out earlier this year with the goal of inspiring artists to support each other and raising the profile of endangered species. She created a Facebook group that involved an art challenge to her followers, of creating one painting each week featuring wildlife and nature. The public Facebook group, named 52 WEEKS - Nature Painting Challenge, began with just nine members and through the year she has seen the group grow to over 200 participants, experienced and novice, from four continents.

Bears are iconic symbols and charismatic ambassadors for BC's wilderness. Given this, with so much talk and controversy in the media about B.C.'s upcoming bear hunting season opening at the start of October, we thought it made sense to focus on bears at the second annual BC Conservation Symposium. The goal was to help the science to reach the public and stimulate unpoliticized dialogue around the best use of this incredible resource.