Bears Across Canada

8th Wonder of the World

Bears, bears, bears. Big ones, little ones, whimsical or lifelike ones.

Who could have imagined how much the world would benefit in the past 100 years from a toy. Not an ordinary toy, but one with an extraordinary story. One that would capture the heart of its owner and cause others to want one too even if it meant they ended up waiting until they were an adult. For this eighth wonder of the world is appreciated, loved, adored, and cherished by people of all ages. Yes, the teddy bear is an amazing entity and here in Canada, the teddy bear and its associated industry continues to grow. Throughout this vast country, Canadian teddy bear artists and collectors discovered how important teddies were to the rest of the world and how unaware the rest of the world was about Canadian teddies.

Thus, when a group of teddy bear artists in British Columbia decided to promote the Canadian teddy bear industry, Bears Across Canada began to take shape. The editor, Donna Reiner, and co-editors, Ruth Hasman (Dear Bears) and Cathy Cheung (Larious Bears) each has over 10 years experience in the industry. Working together they combined their respective and unique talents in organization and planning with their experiences, passion and artistry relating to bear making. Their goal was to produce a complete and comprehensive publication that represented the teddy bear industry in every region of Canada.

From what was first envisioned as a small book, Bears Across Canada rapidly took on a life of its own. Canadian Teddy Bear News ran an article about the book and word of the venture spread at teddy bear shows. A web page was developed, solicitations were mailed out and gradually artists were discovered in every territory and province.

The editors along with Atchison Literature Inc. have designed a book which you will find attractive as well as educational. Bears Across Canada is a classic, coffee-table quality soft cover volume, printed on fine-milled paper specifically selected to last for generations. It will make a handsome addition to any library, a treasured family keepsake, or a highly valued personal gift.

Unlike other books about teddy bear artists, Bears Across Canada has a format, which is intended to inform readers about a variety of aspects. The layout of the book is based on the geography of the country. Beginning in western Canada with the territories, the book then covers the provinces from west to east. The cover page for each section includes facts and points of interest. In addition, you can discover what real bears reside in Canada and where, learn more teddy bear trivia, and be amazed how Winnie the bear came to be immortalized by A.A. Milne.

Bears Across Canada also contains information about Canadian teddy bear artists, suppliers, promoters, publications and other supporting businesses. While many of these groups have feature entries, a more comprehensive listing is at the back of the book along with contact information.

For anyone who had a teddy bear. You don't have to be a bearmaker to enjoy this book. -- Canadian Teddy Bear News, Winter 2002