Conference delegates can go face to face with polar bears.

• Author: Larmour, Adelle
• Position: SPECIAL REPORT: CONFERENCE, CONVENTION AND EVENT PLANNING

As the world's first polar bear rehabilitation facility, the Polar Bear Conservation and Education Habitat is a unique must-see attraction when visiting Cochrane. Now in its third season, the number of visitations is growing each year.

The attraction, along with the Heritage Village, was awarded the 2005 Innovation Award from the Tourism Federation of Ontario and the 2006 Tourism Industry Association of Canada-Business of the Year Award.

A membership program is available for residents and non-residents.

Erin VanAlstine-Salatino, marketing, media relations and events co-ordinator, says they have members located throughout the world.

The program has marketing partnerships with Science North in Sudbury, Tourism Timmins, Ontario Northland's Northlander train and Polar Bear Express, and most recently, thne Shania Twain Centre in Timmins and Hockey Heritage North in Kirkland Lake.

Moccasin Trail Tours offers fly/drive packages where one can fly from Toronto to Timmins, and then drive to Cochrane to visit the Habitat and Heritage Village.

The facility provides educational programs based upon the Ontario curriculum for schools from Grades 1 to 8. It has also held other events such as job training, employee appreciation, and catered social evenings for businesses.

The Habitat is comprised of three rooms.

The discovery room holds about 20 people and can be set up like a mini theatre with a television and DVD player for educational purposes. It is often used for birthday parties, as well. It...