Woman killed by bear at Alberta oilsands site was with group of workers: union

FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. – A union official says a woman killed by a bear at one of Canada’s major oilsands sites was with several workers who tried to scare the animal away.

The official says the 36-year-old Suncor employee was an instrument technician, who was doing electrical work at a job site near Fort McMurray, Alta., on Wednesday.

The spokesman says the bear dragged the woman away as up to seven other employees watched in horror.

The union Unifor, which represents the workers, doesn’t believe anyone was carrying bear spray.

RCMP killed an adult black bear, which is now undergoing tests to confirm whether it is the same animal that mauled the woman.

Alberta occupational health and safety says companies that operate in the region have procedures to try to prevent such attacks.