CFZ-CANADA: Searching for Sasquatch

Alberta Sasquatch researcher Aaron Arcand wants to be a reality star. On February 15^th, 2014, he pitched his idea for a reality show to “Dragon’s Den”, a reality show itself, that gives enterpreneurs a chance to get awarded funding for their projects. Episodes of Dragons' Den air on CBC, and you can watch full episodes online or download Dragons' Den from iTunes. Judges are Canadian business moguls who have the cash and the know-how to make the projects happen. Dragons' Den originated in Japan and versions are now airing in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, The Netherlands, Finland, in the Middle East and of course in Canada.

Two big questions immediately come to mine. First, do we need another Sasquatch reality show? Arcand proposes one location, and one researcher who spends six months there searching for Sasquatch. The one location idea is unique—most reality TV takes crews to various locations with few good results. Those of us who have been in the field know all too well that brief visits, even to locations known to have multiple sightings, can yield very little. There might be some merit to spending an extended amount of time in one place. Certainly it would give good opportunity to collect large amounts of data. He proposes that he takes this on alone, which is problematic in that he would need someone to help with cameras and audio. His proposed budget is $100,000 which seems excessive for a one man camping experience. The audition in February was effective; he has been invited to Toronto on April 1 to convince the judges his idea is worth airing on the TV show.

The other question is, who is Aaron Arcand? Mr. Arcand is an owner and operator of a fire and safety services company in Edmonton, Alberta. His LinkedIn profile says he works for A-Tech Fire and Safety Services, but a quick look at the Yellow Pages doesn’t show any such place in Alberta. He does pop up on other internet sites, including an entertaining one called bigfootblogger.com. Here Arcand is quoted by blogger Robert Lindsay on January 17 responding to rather comical accusations posted online by anonymous surfers:

Anonymous comment: Saw a hot looking Bigfoot babe near the dump at the Small Boys Camp in Alberta. He named her Bo after Bo Derek. Apparently she was a real cutie.
Arcand Response: Yes, while changing a flat tire on the road near the Small Boys Dump I saw a young female Sasquatch. If there is such a thing as a hot Sasquatch, she was it. I tell ya, shave her down, and you would be looking at the body of a sexy 18 year old. Firm titties and all. They did not even bounce as she ran off into the woods. So yes, I named her Bo after Bo Derek.

It looks like the proposed new show is in the same quality as those already available.