Teddy Bears' Picnic returns for in-person checkups after 5-year hibernation

A longtime Winnipeg event returned from hibernation on Sunday, drawing thousands of youngsters for a fun filled day.

The Teddy Bears' Picnic returned after a five-year hiatus with young people bringing all sorts of plushy pals for a checkup. The Children's Hospital Foundation also announced at the event that it has exceeded a five-year fundraising goal.

The Better Futures campaign raised a grand total of $86,855,879, which is more than the original goal of $75 million for the hospital, according to CEO Stefano Grande.

"It's the largest donor driven campaign in the history of this province and so we're so humbled by the generosity of Manitoba," said Grande."Our hospital is one of the oldest [and]we need to improve certain diagnostic centres.

"We need to improve technology, improve equipment and the generosity of Manitobans is incredible."

Grande said about 90 per cent of the funding has been put to use so far.

"You can touch it, you can feel it, you can see what the generosity has transpired into," he said.

One of those new projects is a new cardiac care centre, which will help about 6,000 kids every year, according to a news release from the hospital.

The Teddy Bears' Picnic, which teaches children about healthcare by showing them how to fix up their stuffed animals, drew thousands of kids for its grand return at Assiniboine Park.

It was the first time the event was held in person since the COVID-19 pandemic began. It was cancelled outright for some years and held virtually for a couple others.

It was also the event's 35th anniversary.

Lilly Wood and Violet Lidster, both aged nine, brought their stuffed friends, Sunny and Bubbles, in for a visit to the Dr. Goodbear Clinic. They had a broken leg and arm, respectively.

Luckilyat the clinic, people's plushy pals get triaged and go through medical treatments and tests like MRIs, X-Rays and get casts.

"Mine was running and she face planted on the ground and hit her arm," said Wood.

The two both said once their bears were healed, it made for a great day.

"They're doing great," said Lidster. "They're doing awesome."

Dr. Jon McGavock, a researcher at the hospital, was also there to help encourage young people to get into science.

McGavock said kids could bring their teddy bear to the "I want To Be a Scientist" tent and do things like figure out how to put on a cast.

"We want kids to be the next level of scientists," he said.

Meanwhile, Grande said it was worth the wait for the event's return.

"Judging by the crowds, our community is happy that it's here," he said. "Especially the kids with their stuffies, they're in lineups, taking their teddy bear for their annual checkup and really engaging our frontline staff."

WATCH |Teddy Bears' picnic returns in Winnipeg after long hibernation:

Teddy Bears' picnic returns in Winnipeg after long hibernation

6 days ago

Duration 1:24

Thousands of young people came to Assiniboine Park Sunday to take their plushy pals for a visit to the Dr. Goodbear Clinic.