Recent bear sightings have led to the cancellation of Friday’s Vanier Ridge Run in Riverdale.

Vanier Catholic Secondary School principal Ryan Sikkes said that the possibility of bears always exists, but the recent presence of a family of bears in Riverdale has the school “exercising an abundance of caution.”

“It was not a black and white decision to make,” he said this morning. “I hope that this is a one-time thing.”

Sikkes said that the school had spoken with conservation officers about options to run the race before they came to a decision and apologizes for the disappointment and inconvenience of not having the race.

Rescheduling the event was not possible due to the end of the school year and exams being so close.

“We just really don’t have time to fit it in,” he said.