Teddy Bear Picnic Offers Comfort, Connection, and Community for Thunder Bay Families
Hundreds of children and their families gathered at Fort William Gardens this week for one of Thunder Bay’s most treasured traditions: the annual Teddy Bear Picnic. While the event was originally planned for the leafy setting of Vickers Park, uncertain weather prompted a quick move indoors—yet the magic of the day remained fully intact.
With teddy bears tucked under arms and faces painted in vibrant colours, children explored a cheerful world of play, learning, and discovery. The arena floor was transformed into an energetic festival filled with interactive displays, hands-on activities, and the joyful noise of families spending time together.
This free community event has long been a favourite in the city, but its significance reaches beyond fun and entertainment. For children who have experienced early adversity—such as poverty, neglect, or instability—events like this can offer meaningful moments of safety, joy, and connection. Known as adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), these early life stressors are linked to long-term health and social challenges. However, protective environments that nurture positive relationships and offer access to supportive resources can help counterbalance their effects.
The Teddy Bear Picnic provides just that. It’s a space where children are free to be themselves, parents can find information about community services, and families can build bonds in a welcoming, stigma-free environment.
At this year’s event, highlights included a Boo-Boo Bear Station where children could “treat” their stuffed animals, fostering empathy and making health care feel less intimidating. The First Responders Display allowed children to meet emergency personnel and explore real vehicles in a safe, approachable setting. The Science North Show delivered interactive science demonstrations that delighted curious minds and sparked conversations about weather and the natural world.
A large Community Group Expo offered practical tools and resources for families—from early childhood development and health services to local arts and recreation programs. In many cases, parents were able to connect with supports they may not have otherwise known existed.
Volunteers played a major role in creating the day’s cheerful atmosphere. A bustling face painting booth, hosted by staff from The Brick, painted hundreds of bright designs and distributed donated teddy bears to children, supporting both local joy and broader causes like SickKids Hospital and the Children’s Miracle Network.
For many families, the Teddy Bear Picnic represents more than just an annual outing—it’s a reminder that community care and inclusion matter. By offering a space that is playful, accessible, and nurturing, the event plants small seeds of resilience that can grow into stronger, more connected futures.
As the crowd trickled out with painted cheeks, full hearts, and cuddly bears in hand, one thing was clear: a rainy forecast couldn’t wash away the spirit of community. Thunder Bay’s Teddy Bear Picnic continues to be a place where every child—and every teddy—is welcomed, celebrated, and embraced.
