Bear outside Toronto City Hall, Bear at the Grey Cup, Bear with a Leafs jersey and Bear in downtown Toronto. (Nanaimo RCMP)
Nanaimo RCMP’s stuffed bear is exploring Newfoundland after a whirlwind cross-country trip.
Bear, a stuffed animal Nanaimo RCMP sent on a road trip back in September 2018, had last been seen at Williams Lake’s Coast Hotel.
Const. Gary O’Brien, media relations officer with Nanaimo RCMP, said after an exhaustive investigation, police discovered Bear had made many friends. Bear made it to Newfoundland in January 2019.
Back in September 2018, he lingered at the Coast Hotel before a salesman named Richard Ryan heard from a friend who was a member of the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador that Bear wanted to head east.
Ryan decided to take Bear to the Grey Cup in Edmonton.
Bear visited hospitality suites and burned the midnight oil with Ryan and his friends.
Ryan then put Bear on a plane to Toronto with Ryan’s friend Bill Smith, also known as Smitty, who attends the Grey Cup every year with Ryan.
Once in Toronto, Bear posed in front of a Toronto Maple Leafs Jersey, skated outside Toronto City Hall and went to a few Irish pubs.
One of Bear’s new friends in Toronto, Jane Noonan, took Bear along with her to Newfoundland. He was given to Newfoundland and Labrador RCMP Regimental Sgt. Major Doug Pack, who is introducing Bear to Newfoundland’s culture.
Newfoundland and Labrador RCMP also reached out to Nanaimo RCMP once Bear arrived. Everyone who had Bear had also provided photos to Newfoundland and Labrador RCMP, which were forwarded to Nanaimo RCMP.
The stuffed animal will be heading the Prince Edward Island next then New Brunswick.
Bear doesn’t say much, so pictures speak volumes to his adventures. We’re pretty sure, there are many more adventures and fun times ahead for Nanaimo Bear
, said O’Brien in a statement.
Bear has signage sewn into his fur to let the public know about his trip and how they can send photos to the Nanaimo RCMP through Facebook, Twitter or an email. Nanaimo RCMP wanted members of the public to take them along in their travels and help Bear fulfill his dream of dipping his paws in the frigid waters off the coast of Newfoundland.
Alexa Huffman
