Grizzlies, diplomacy and dogs: Inside the G7

When global leaders gathered in Alberta for the G7 summit this June, the spotlight was not only on diplomacy, but also on security, including an unconventional team tasked with patrolling the wild edges of the summit grounds.

John Clarke, a Crowsnest Pass-based wildlife expert and founder/owner of the Canadian Bear Safety Authority, brought his team of trained bear dogs to the event near Kananaskis Village where he served as part of the wildlife security team ensuring the safety of both people and animals in the area.

“We were there to prevent conflict between people and animals by establishing safe boundaries,” said Clarke. “I’d do sweeps of areas and teach the bears or other wildlife that they can stay in the woods, but they can’t come over where all the people are.”

The summit was held in the heart of bear country, a location chosen for its stunning scenery but one that presented unique challenges given the nearby wildlife corridors regularly used by grizzly and black bears, elk, moose, and cougars.

Clarke was contracted through a public Alberta Parks posting and said he was quick to respond when he saw it.

“I became aware of it through a government job contract posting. I knew provincial parks was looking to hire somebody with dogs to do the summit,” said Clarke. “So I reached out and said this fits perfectly for my business. They kind of knew me, knew I had the bear dogs, knew I had started this business. Obviously other businesses applied, but based on my experience I was fortunate to get it.”

Clarke’s job was to provide what he calls “wildlife security,” patrolling the perimeter of designated summit areas to ensure that no large animals crossed into human-occupied zones.

“There were army guys camped in the mountains, lots of people moving around, and it’s an area full of natural wildlife travel corridors,” he explained. “They did a good job already securing some areas with fencing, electric and otherwise, but our role was making sure the wildlife respected those boundaries. It’s not just bears, there’s elk, moose, cougars. You name it.”

Clarke’s method relied on regular sweeps and the help of his highly trained Karelian bear dogs, a breed known for their ability to safely deter wildlife through controlled confrontation and loud vocalizations, along with a rescued Cane Corso and Pitbull cross.

The team conducted routine patrols of areas where wildlife might encroach, helping to establish an invisible but firm line between the summit and the surrounding forest.

“Basically, we were saying: you stay on your side, and we’ll stay on ours,” he said.

His bear dogs, trained in aversive conditioning, respond to scent and movement and are capable of scaring off even the most stubborn grizzlies, without harm. Clarke described their performance during the G7 as excellent.

“They did really well,” he said. “They’re trained to work in partnership with me and respond to wildlife appropriately. They know their job.”

While the work may have appeared straightforward, Clarke stressed it involved a great deal of experience, patience and timing.

“You can’t just walk into the woods with a dog and expect results. You need to understand animal behaviour, how they move, and how to keep everyone safe; including the animals.”

One of the most memorable assignments came when Global Affairs Canada organized a special hike for the spouses of attending leaders. Among them were the First Lady of Canada, the First Lady of Germany, the First Lady of Japan, and the husband of the European Union Chancellor.

“They had meetings for the presidents and prime ministers, but they also planned events for the spouses,” said Clarke. “So Global Affairs ran a spousal hike up at Troll Falls near Nakiska. That’s where most of the summit activity was happening.”

Clarke and his team began sweeping the trail days in advance to ensure it was clear of any wildlife. On the day of the hike, they checked the route again before the dignitaries arrived, confirming that a nearby collared bear had stayed well clear.

When the spouses and their respective security teams arrived, Clarke greeted them, introduced his team and explained the role of the bear dogs.

“I told them who we were, why we were there and what the dogs do,” he said. “They were all incredibly kind, really interested in the dogs, and very down to earth.”

As the group hiked to the waterfall, Clarke and his dogs walked ahead while security teams followed closely behind each dignitary. He said it was one of the safest hikes ever done in that area.

“I told them, these dogs will die for you. There’s no way a bear is getting near you. Me and my team, we’d stop it. The dogs will risk their lives for you,” he said. “The Secret Service guys actually loved that.”

Clarke said the group stopped frequently to talk, enjoy the view, and ask questions about the dogs and the wildlife.

“The Japanese First Lady [Yoshiko Ishiba] in particular was asking lots of questions,” Clarke recalled. “She was really into it.”

Then came a surprising discovery.

“I said to her, by the way, you have Karelian bear dogs in Japan,” said Clarke. “And she’s like, ‘We do?’ I told her, yeah, the same people who trained our dogs sold some to groups in Japan who are doing aversive conditioning work with sun bears.”

The information came as a surprise to the Japanese delegation. Within a week, the Japanese Consulate in Calgary contacted Clarke for more details, requesting the names of the original trainers and suppliers.

“They didn’t know they already had a connection,” Clarke said. “I gave them the contact info and helped make that link. That was a really neat part of the job, being able to connect them back to the roots of the program.”

Clarke brings 34 years of experience to this work. He served in multiple roles with Alberta Fish and Wildlife including District Officer, Problem Wildlife Specialist and Predatory Response Team Leader. Over the course of his career, he’s been involved in more than 1,500 human-wildlife conflict cases, including acting as lead investigator or team member in 14 mauling investigations and 10 self-defence incidents involving wildlife.

He also spent 16 years as a K9 handler and coordinator with the Alberta Government’s Karelian Bear Dog Unit, conducting aversive conditioning on a range of species and training other officers in capturing and tranquillizing animals, radio collar monitoring, and proper wildlife release procedures.

Since retirement, Clarke has focused on operating Canadian Bear Safety Authority (CBSA), which offers tactical bear safety training, wildlife monitoring, attractant management, and conflict reduction strategies for communities, industry, and government.

Clarke said education is one of the key ways to prevent dangerous encounters.

“It’s about confidence and knowledge. If people are trained properly, a lot of these incidents never have to happen in the first place.”

He was also instrumental in the development of the Crowsnest Pass Bear Smart Association and served as a liaison for over 12 years, supporting public outreach and local safety initiatives.

During the summit, Clarke noted the high level of professionalism and coordination on-site, particularly from Alberta Parks.

“They were great to work with,” he said.

Clarke added that being part of such a high-profile assignment reaffirmed the importance of the work CBSA does and the role bear dogs can play in keeping communities, and international gatherings, safe.

Clarke and his dogs have been featured in national news coverage about wildlife conflict and bear safety, including on CTV and CBC. Videos of their work continue to circulate online as examples of non-lethal wildlife deterrence in action.

Clarke remains committed to promoting safety, education and coexistence.

“It’s not about removing animals or being aggressive. It’s about understanding their needs and behaviours, and setting respectful boundaries,” he said. “At the end of the day, we’re all just trying to share this land the best way we can.”