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Bear sighting keeps students indoors at Nanaimo schools

A bear sighting in central Nanaimo Friday morning sent two schools briefly into shelter-in-place protocol. Nanaimo District Secondary School, Fairview Community School and the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District officers were all affected.

A bear sighting in central Nanaimo Friday morning sent two schools briefly into shelter-in-place protocol.

Nanaimo District Secondary School, Fairview Community School and the Nanaimo-Ladysmith School District officers were all affected.

The first report of a bear was about 8:30 a.m.

Students and staff stayed inside with the doors unlocked, said district spokesman Dale Burgos.

“Shelter-in-place is anything that could be like an oil spill in the area,” he said. “It’s business as usual inside.”

A hold-and-secure scenario would see doors locked if there is police activity outside, for example, Burgos said.

jbell@timescolonist.com