Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/500391
quick to agree that while the chances of seeing a real wolf in the wild are slim, there are other ways visitors can interact with them. "You don't have to see a wolf to experience a wolf," says Beckmann, showing his dedica- tion to both creating a wolf legacy and boost- ing Thompson's tourism industr y. He's referring to the opportunity for visitors to howl with wolves (up to 10 different messages are used to communicate with a wolf pack) and follow wolf tracks through their natural habitat (visit www.thompsonspiritway.ca to book with a guide). And soon, wildlife enthusi- asts will have the rare chance to see wolves up close at the world-class Boreal Discovery Cen- tre. Opening later this year on the site of the former ompson Zoo, the centre will provide educational programs and recreational activi- ties reflecting the boreal forest and its resident animals, such as wolves – but also caribou, lynx and owls. As someone who had never pre- viously considered Thompson as a destina- tion, I'm now thinking about my next visit when the centre is fully operational. I may not see a live wolf while in omp- son this time, but I have a new appreciation for the cautious canines and the northern city that's giving them a voice. It's only after visit- ing and learning more about wolves that I real- ize how much my own childhood memories of Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs gave me a skewed picture of wolves in the wild. e city of ompson has successfully rid me of my Big Bad Prejudice. I'm looking for- ward to giving my own domesticated canine an extra big hug when I get home. GP The Heritage North Museum; one of its wildlife displays (below).