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Like Father, Like Daughter On The Tundra 

This Father’s Day, we are taking a moment to highlight the one and only "Buggy Bob" and his daughter, Dr. Cassandra Debets. While some dads pass down traditional hobbies like canoeing, fishing, or baseball, Bob passed down a passion for the largest land predator on earth.

As Frontiers North Adventures and Polar Bears International (PBI) celebrate 25 years of alliance, we want to acknowledge Bob Debets—who has been a part of this alliance since the beginning—and Dr. Cassandra Debets, who grew up alongside this incredible collaboration.
Thank you both for your dedication to the North!

Meet Buggy Bob 

If you have travelled with us, there is a high probability that you have met the legendary Buggy Bob, who has been driving a Tundra Buggy® with Frontiers North Adventures since 2001. Before his time on the tundra with us, Bob brings a wealth of polar bear knowledge as he had a 31-year-long career as a zookeeper at Assiniboine Park Zoo and the San Francisco Zoo. Bob spent much of his zookeeping career working closely with polar bears, including Debby, the world's oldest polar bear, who lived to be 42 years old at the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

Those fortunate enough to join Buggy Bob on a Tundra Buggy in Churchill, Manitoba, have the opportunity to learn from his decades of experience while viewing polar bears in the wild. Bob’s deep passion and respect for the tundra and its wildlife shine through in every story he shares.

It is undeniable that he is effective in passing along his passion, as his daughter has found her own path and dedication to the Arctic's iconic species.

Meet Dr. Cassandra Debets 

Growing up and spending time on a Tundra Buggy, it was not too long before Cassandra soon found her own path to polar bears through research and education. Cassandra first earned a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences from the University of Manitoba, an MES in Arctic Ecology from York University, and a doctorate at the University of Manitoba. Her doctoral thesis focused on the diet of ringed seals in Hudson Bay, and if you know polar bears, you know just how connected their lives are to seals.

Dr. Debet's master's research project was a joint effort with Polar Bears International, looking at polar bear body condition and even intertwined with her father's work, as the project was based on observing polar bears from a Tundra Buggy and incorporating citizen science data from Frontiers North Adventures guests and staff who were taught to assess polar bears using a score card handout. 

Today, Cassandra continues to serve as a PBI Field Ambassador, stepping onto Tundra Buggies® to share her knowledge of polar bear research, biology, and conservation directly with guests. During the summer months, you can also find Dr. Debets in Churchill, leading youth summer camps with Polar Bears International to inspire the next generation of Arctic stewards.

Just as Frontiers North Adventures and Polar Bears International share a passion for polar bears, so do the Debets, who continuously advocate for the species and spread awareness of Churchill and its wildlife worldwide. If you take a class with Dr. Debets, you will likely find many course case studies focused on Churchill. And if you are lucky enough to step onto a Tundra Buggy with "Buggy Bob," you will benefit from his decades of firsthand polar bear knowledge and stories.

Celebrating 25 Years of Alliance

 

Bob and Cassandra are the living embodiment of the alliance between Frontiers North and Polar Bears International. Their story starts with a foundational passion for ecotourism, a spark that inspires guests to do their part for polar bear conservation. As a Tundra Buggy Driver, Bob serves on the front lines, creating profound, firsthand connections between visitors, polar bears, and their critical habitat. From there, that inspired passion is channelled into real-world action by PBI ambassadors like Cassandra, who ground the experience in sharing rigorous scientific research and vital conservation initiatives. Together, their combined efforts represent the core mission of this 25-year alliance: to educate, preserve, and inspire. We all have a role in the future of polar bears. 

Ultimately, the story of Bob and Cassandra is a beautiful reflection of what can happen when we share our passion for the natural world with the next generation. While Bob has shared his passion for polar bears with guests from across the globe, his passion has also shone within his own family tree, with Cassandra continuing the Debets legacy as advocates for polar bears.

Today, that legacy reverberates far beyond a Tundra Buggy. It lives on in the peer-reviewed research that helps us understand the shifting dynamics of the North, and it sits in a University of Manitoba lecture hall where 1,200 students at a time are inspired by real-world stories of Churchill’s wildlife.

It is a living testament to the very spirit behind the 25-year alliance between Frontiers North Adventures and Polar Bears International. Conservation isn't just about data points or tourism; it’s about community, stewardship, alliances, and passing the torch to those who will care for the ice and polar bears in the future.

Learn more about our alliance.

This Father’s Day, we want to extend a massive thank you to "Buggy Bob"—not just for his 25+ years of dedication to our guests and the polar bears we love, but for his life’s work dedicated to polar bears from his time spent as a zookeeper in Winnipeg and San Francisco, to his many years on the tundra. 

Happy Father’s Day to Bob, and to all the fathers, mentors, and guardians out there who share their passions and inspire the next generations.

Join the Adventure: Travel alongside Tundra Buggy Drivers like Bob and top Polar Bears International polar bear researchers on our Conservation Journey®: Polar Bears Adventure.