Josh Balcarras, also Ms Balcarras’ brother, told CBC: “It’s surreal. It doesn’t seem real. It feels like a dream.
“The way it starts is a few hours of not hearing from them. That turns into a day, and then a night… then a second night comes and it becomes a real thing.”
He said his sister and Ms Reed were “two peas in a pod” who “got along really, really well”.
“When Jenny hiked, Selah was right there beside her,” he said.
The Central Coast Teachers’ Association told social media Ms Balcarras had only joined the group in August and dedicated “countless hours to connecting with the students she served and worked closely with teachers and other staff supporting their well-being”.
“Her time among us was far too brief, but her kindness, dedication, and care have left a lasting impression on our school community. She will be deeply missed,” they said.
There have been a number of reported bear attacks in British Columbia in recent years, with the region home to between 10,000 and 13,000 brown bears, according to the Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks.
