Christopher Best reassured his family about his safety while photographing polar bears at a radar site in Nunavut before his tragic encounter with one of the bears on August 8, 2024. The 34-year-old was employed at a remote installation on Brevoort Island, off the eastern coast of Baffin Island, operated by the Nasittuq Corporation. According to a report by the company, Best ventured outside with his camera after being informed of a bear in the vicinity, believing it was at a distance.
Unaware of a second bear nearby, Best was caught off guard when one of the bears blocked his path to safety and charged at him, followed by the first bear joining the attack. His mother, Shelly Cox, expressed that had Best known about the second bear, he would not have ventured out. Cox emphasized the need for safety measures like fences and motion-sensor monitors with alarms at radar sites to prevent such tragedies.
The report highlighted that there had been no previous fatalities or injuries from bear attacks in the seven decades of operation of the North Warning System and its predecessor, the DEW Line. Best, who hailed from Labrador, had a diverse work history and a passion for reading and photography. He had prior experience working on radar sites and was awaiting security clearance for logistics work at the time of the incident, temporarily assigned to fuel tank cleaning.
On the day before the attack, Best and his crew encountered a bear while cleaning tanks, which he captured on camera from the safety of a vehicle. Despite undergoing polar bear awareness training, the report noted missing documentation for his course completion. The report proposed safety enhancements such as requiring workers to seek permission before going outside after hours and making public announcements when bears are present.
Following the tragic incident, Nasittuq Corporation refrained from commenting until the completion of the federal government’s report. Best’s belongings, including his camera and SD card with photos, were eventually returned to his mother, who is determined to uncover all details surrounding her son’s untimely demise. Cox emphasized her relentless pursuit for information, stating, “I want to know everything. That’s just the person I am. I’m not letting it go.”
