You are wondering probably why this article, but on our way to Quebec, we had to stop at this place to understand Where it all began, Winnie the Pooh.
I’m pretty sure that a lot of you did love Winnie The Pooh when you were younger. I have someone in my life who still loves it, and he wanted to make this stop.
Where is Winnie The Pooh statue located?
It’s in White River on the Trans Canadian Highway in Ontario, and you can’t miss it! There is parking behind the statue where you can park and walk there.
What is the real story behind Winnie The Pooh?
On August 24, 1914, Lieutenant Harry Colebourn, V.S, of the 34th Fort Garry Horse & Canadian Army Veterinary Corps, purchased a black bear cub at White River, Ontario, while en route overseas. He named her WINNIE after his hometown, Winnipeg. Winnie became the soldier’s mascot and was left in the care of London Zoo on December 9, 1914, while Lieutenant Colebourn served in France. In 1919, he gave her to the Zoo for permanent keeping where she was watched and loved by many, including author A. A Milne and his son Christopher. In 1926, A. A Milne and illustrator E.H Shepard gave the fictional character WINNIE-THE-POOH to Christopher and the world for posterity. Winnie entertained visitors to the London Zoo for almost 20 years, and lives on in the hearts of children of all ages.
The people of White River dedicated this sculpture to the world on August 22, 1992.
Behind the statue, there is the station area where Lt Harry Colebourn first encountered the original ” Winnie”. It’s a a five-minute drive from here across town. Take Elgin Street, which passes the white tourist information center across the green. Turn left when you encounter the rail line.
Harry was a veterinarian. he was responsible for the welfare of the army hoses on the steam train that arrived in White River on August 24, 1914. You can imagine his reaction to seeing an orphaned Black Bear cub for sale on the platform. Lt Colebourn looked down at the very quiet and well-behaved cub and asked, ” How much?” The trapper answered, ” Twenty dollars do it?” Lt Colebourn pulled out his wallet and looked through what he had. He hesitated a moment, looking at the bear before he finally said,” yes, twenty dollars will do it.” Lt Colebourn paid the trapper, then picked up the little cub and carried her around like a puppy, forming a bond with her for the next hour before the train departed. He could never have imagined the implications of that decision.
If you are traveling through Ontario, make a stop to remember how it felt to be a kid and to love Winnie The Pooh.
