‘We want families to enjoy the holidays’: 26th annual Teddy Bear Toss going ahead with different look
Posted Dec 3, 2020 4:10 pm.
Last Updated Dec 3, 2020 4:12 pm.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – The 26th annual Hitmen Teddy Bear Toss will look a little different in 2020.
Due to COVID-19, the Hitmen haven’t been able to have a season, meaning for this year’s Teddy Bear Toss, thousands of stuffed bears won’t be flooding the ice of the Scotiabank Saddledome following the Hitmen’s first goal of the game.
“The need is there for bears. We need to find about 20,000 bears to help about 40 agencies in Calgary,” explained Rob Kerr, Assistant Business Manager of the Calgary Hitmen.
To find those bears, the Hitmen will be doing a teddy bear collection in the form of a curbside drop-off at the north entrance of the Saddledome from Friday, Dec. 4 to Sunday, Dec. 6.
“We want to make it something fun that the whole family can get into their vehicle, and just give them an opportunity to enjoy the holidays and do something fun,” added Kerr.
Due to the pandemic, all bears will go through a rigorous screening process and then quarantine before being donated according to the team.
The Hitmen are also offering three additional ways for fans to help participate in the Teddy Bear Collection if they are not able to make it down to the Saddledome.
- Purchasing a Calgary Zoo panda bear online. Bears can also be dropped off at the Zoo.
- Bears can be dropped off at your nearest Toys’R’Us.
- Schedule to have your teddy bear picked up.
Everyone planning to drop a bear off at Teddy Bear Alley is asked to fill out the booking form on the Hitmen website.
Along with the teddy bears, those who make it down to Teddy Bear Alley will be treated with Christmas lights, decorations, special guests, and more. Those who go on Friday, can also drop off an unwrapped gift for the Calgary Flames Alumni Toy Drive.
-with files from Craig Lester
