Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. Local News

New West teddy bears are fighting back against COVID-19 gloom

Residents are encouraged to put teddy bears and other stuffies in their windows to share cheer for local kids who can no longer play in the playgrounds
Julie Maclellan
Jimmy, bear hunt, COVID-19
Jimmy the Bear is watching the street waiting to wave at passersby. He's part of an international movement to create a "bear hunt" for small children who may be walking the neighbourhood for fresh air since they can no longer play at playgrounds because of concerns over COVID-19,Julie MacLellan

Jimmy the Bear wants you to help him brighten the streets of New Westminster for passersby.

New West residents are jumping on board an international movement to put teddy bears and other stuffies in their windows to be visible for passersby.

The idea is to create a virtual “bear hunt” – a scavenger hunt of sorts for parents who may be out for walks around the neighbourhood with small children who are no longer able to play in parks due to the concerns over COVID-19.

Sapperton, teddy bear hunt, bear hunt. COVID-19
Otterton Starfish, Beat-bo, Pinky the Dragon, and Rainbow Cloud are waiting to say hi to kids in Sapperton. Can you find them? - contributed

It was originally based on the children’s picture book We’re Going On a Bear Hunt, by Michael Rosen, and started spreading on social media.

Now, teddy bears in windows around the world are appearing on Twitter – and on news outlets worldwide – to share cheer with their communities.

There's also a movement to add rainbows to your windows - see more on that here.

We have several reports of teddy bears in New Westminster windows already (spoiler alert: at least one of them belongs to me). See a bear peeking out at you while you walk around town? Be sure to share it! Post it on Facebook or tag reporter Julie MacLellan on Twitter, @juliemaclellan.

You can also email photos of teddy bears or other neighbourhood cheer to Julie MacLellan, [email protected].