A mother who had moved to British Columbia to begin a fresh chapter in her life was among two victims of a suspected grizzly bear attack that may have involved multiple animals. Her 20-year-old daughter also lost her life in the incident.
Speaking about his sister, 48-year-old Jennifer “Jenny” Balcarras, Matthew Balcarras remembered her as someone who had made a lasting impression on their family.
“She was a beautiful artist and was an inspiration for me and my brothers,” he said.
Jenny and her daughter, Selah Reed, were reported missing after failing to return home over the weekend. Matthew, one of Jenny’s five siblings, described her as “incredibly strong” and recalled that she had previously lived in remote areas, including Alaska, before moving to Bella Coola several months earlier.
Reed was the youngest of Jenny’s children, another family member confirmed.
At the time of her death, Jenny was building a new career as an art therapist and had recently accepted a position at a local school. Her work had already made a positive impression on the community, prompting the Central Coast Teachers’ Association to publish a tribute in her memory. According to the organisation, she joined the school district as a counsellor in August and quickly developed meaningful connections with her students.
“She dedicated herself to getting to know students, building trust, and offering care and support as they navigated the losses of three significant Elders in the community, a former student, and a current student,” the association said. “At the heart of her work was a commitment to building relationships and helping students feel known, heard, and supported.”
Jenny leaves behind four adult children and a grandchild. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to help her family cover funeral expenses and manage other costs following the devastating loss.
The fundraiser explained that Jenny had recently moved to British Columbia to pursue a “new chapter of her life”. However, she was still getting established in her new profession and had not yet been able to put aside savings for unforeseen expenses.
She was still “working towards building a future and had not yet had the opportunity to establish savings or put aside funds to help her family with unexpected expenses such as these.”
Her family also paid tribute to Selah, remembering the 20-year-old as someone whose life had only just begun. She had “her whole life ahead of her” and was “only beginning her journey into adulthood, making this loss even more heartbreaking.”
Bear warning sign in Bella Coola, British Columbia
Credit: Thomas Sbampato/imageBROKER/Shutterstock
Reed worked as an education assistant while pursuing an online degree. Her family remembered the 20-year-old as “a gentle, sweet, quiet soul” who enjoyed ballet, art and hiking.
Her brother Josh Balcarras also spoke about the close bond between mother and daughter, recalling how they rarely went anywhere without each other.
“They were two peas in a pod,” he told the CBC. “When Jenny hiked, Selah was right there beside her.”
The Bella Coola valley in British Columbia
Credit: Getty
The tragedy unfolded after Jenny and Reed set out for what was described as a “casual walk” in the Snooka West Trail area on the afternoon of Saturday, October 31. The trail is approximately a five-minute drive from their home. When the mother and daughter failed to return, their worried relatives contacted authorities to report them missing.
Matthew later recalled requesting a police welfare check over the weekend. However, officers found no trace of either Jenny or her vehicle, which was eventually located at a nearby trailhead.
The search ended in heartbreak when authorities discovered one body on Monday, November 2, followed by a second recovery on Tuesday, November 3. The discoveries were confirmed in an updated statement from Canada’s Conservation Officer Service. Their family subsequently identified the two victims as Jenny and her 20-year-old daughter, Selah.
Source: Various
