The bear is back

St. James-Assiniboia

Winnipeg

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 28/08/2024 (640 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Following a hiatus caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Teddy Bears’ Picnic, put on by the Children’s Hospital Foundation, will return for its 35th edition on Sept. 8.

“It’s a Manitoba tradition,” said Kathryn McBurney, director of marketing and communications at the foundation. “And it’s just a really wonderful day to get families out, kids out. I believe this year, because it’s on September 8, is also Grandparents Day. So we’re hoping to see multi-generational groups together and just having a lot of fun.”

The Teddy Bears’ Picnic is a free, family event at Assiniboine Park, put on with the help of front-line health workers, which aims to give kids a chance to see the inner workings of a hospital in a friendly, accessible environment. It’s set up outdoors, in the form of multiple tents for families to navigate throughout the day. A recent press release described the event as “an exciting day of family fun that also provides kids with a developmentally appropriate understanding of what may occur in a hospital or research environment.”

The main pull of the event, since the very beginning, McBurney explained, is the Dr. Goodbear Clinic. There, kids can bring their own stuffed animals from home and oversee their little friend’s entire hospital stay — from diagnosis to recovery, orchestrated by professionals in the local healthcare landscape.

“This just helps the kids feel safe and a little less worried about what to expect when they do need Children’s Hospital themselves,” McBurney said.

The picnic also features a second tent, put together by the Children’s Hospital Research Institute of Manitoba, called ‘I Want To Be a Scientist.’

“That’s another really wonderful tent that we always make sure we have,” McBurney continued. “The kids get to try experiments, and then they get to learn how medical research is actually quite helpful to the medical health care that we all get.

“(We have) a lot of activities, but those are the main ones. And we know that people every year really want to get in there with their teddy bears, into that documented bear clinic, and see what happens in a hospital environment.”

Alongside the main tents, the picnic also features entertainment throughout the day, such as drop-in yoga and a list of performers including LuLu and the TomCat, Nic Messner, Magician Mr. Ken, and Kickit Dance Studio.

Character visits and kids activities will be available for participants, as well.

“Quite a variety will be up on the stage all day. You know, it’s a picnic. So bring your picnic basket, grab a blanket, sit and enjoy the entertainment. You can wander around to the different tents and see what’s going on there. If you don’t bring your own picnic basket, there are local food trucks that will be serving throughout the day, and so it just kind of gives a lot of variety, and it’s a great event for families to get out to, and just spend the whole day at Assiniboine Park,” McBurney said.

The Teddy Bears’ Picnic is also hosting a 50/50 draw, in support of the CHF. Those interested can buy a ticket now, online at goodbear.ca/events/teddy-bears-picnic-50-50/. A winner will be announced at the picnic.

The picnic was brought together by sponsors such as Humphrey Window and Doors Systems, IHop, and more.

To plan your day at the picnic or learn more about the event, visit goodbear.ca/events/teddybearspicnic/