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More than 3,000 people, mostly children and their grownups, spent Father’s Day at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum on Sunday to celebrate the return of the CHEO Teddy Bears’ Picnic after a four-year hiatus.
Organized by the CHEO Foundation, the popular event was put on hold in 2020 because of the pandemic.
This year, the 37th edition of the picnic was part of CHEO’s 50th-anniversary celebrations and took place in a new location that was green and spacious, but lacking in parking spots. Instead, shuttles were provided from nearby lots, and there were few, if any, complaints.
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For Massimo Scanga and his two young daughters, the shuttle was part of the adventure on the family’s first visit to a teddy bears’ picnic. Scanga and his wife both work as lab techs for Ottawa hospitals, and had heard about the event at work.
They started the day with pancakes and sausages before three-year-old Nova took charge, leading them to the bouncy castles and games, and stopping to meet any mascot she spotted. At the CHEO Bear Hospital, she presented her fluffy white bunny, Hoppy, for examination.
“She got a prescription for more hugs, and her bunny got a Band-Aid,” said her father, who cradled eight-month-old Luna in his arms when she ran out of steam. He said they will definitely attend next year’s event.
That will be good news to CHEO Foundation president Steve Read, who said organizers were thrilled with the fine weather and strong attendance after being unsure if people would show up after such a long absence. At its peak before the pandemic, the event would draw up to 5,000 visitors.
“We feel we’re rebuilding that,” said Read. “A lot of these families might not have ever attended before so we’re thinking of this as rebuilding an event to put on their calendars for next year.”
Thanks to sponsors, there was no charge for most of the food, activities and entertainment, which included a magician, clowns, children’s entertainers and a performance by the RCMP Pipe Band.
“As much as we can, we try to make all the events and activities and food free,” Read said. “We do this as a way of saying thank you to the community that has supported us in so many ways through the course of the year.”
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