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The teddy bears picnic is back for another exciting year.
After a four-year hiatus, the popular event returned last year, celebrating its 35th anniversary.
Scott McDonald is the chair of the Teddy Bears' Picnic steering committee. He says this year's event will again take place in the fall.
"It's going to be Sunday, Sept. 7, and it's going to be at the same place it's been for the last number of years, the beautiful Assiniboine Park," said McDonald.
This year's event will feature family favourites, like the Dr. Goodbear Clinic, put on by frontline staff, where kids’ teddy bears are triaged and put through different medical tests and treatments, including MRIs, X-rays, and casting. The 'I Want to be a Scientist' tent will also be back this year with experiments and child-friendly activities.
Also back this year is the Teddy Bears' Picnic 50/50.
"The prize pot starts at $20,00 and keeps climbing," said Ellen Kroft, former chair of the Teddy Bears' Picnic. "Every ticket purchased will help us continue to provide education and exposure to children on important topics such as health and safety, while delivering it in a fun and approachable way, which is why the Picnic has made such a positive impact over the years. Caregivers who once attended the event as children often bring their own families to share that same experience."
McDonald says it takes hundreds of volunteers to help the event run smoothly.
"I think we have over 300 that make the day happen, everywhere from set up before the event to making the event run throughout the day, and then the teardown because there are so many activities and tents that need to be put up and taken down, so we need a lot of helping hands," he said. "We're just so happy to have so many great volunteers that want to give back and come out for the day and enjoy the festivities."
The main idea of the Teddy Bears' Picnic is to educate children on various health initiatives and make them feel comfortable about things that happen in a hospital or health care setting.
"It's trying to bring down some of those barriers and that stress that kids may feel or some of that anxiety if they have to go to the hospital for whatever it is that they need to go there for," McDonald explained. "We're just trying to make that comfortable, fun environment and engage them so they feel supported and safe in that environment."
The 36th annual Teddy Bears Picnic will take place on Sept. 7 form 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Assiniboine Park, with the event's Teddy Bear's Pancake Breakfast by IHOP beginning at 9 a.m.
Anyone interested in volunteering or purchasing a 50/50 can find out more information here.