WINNIPEG, MB, Aug. 18 - Winnipeg city officials estimate that more than 50,000 people celebrated Pooh Friendship Day in Assiniboine Park today. The annual Winnipeg family festival, hosted by Walt Disney Canada (Ltd.) and supported this year by Manitoba Lotteries Corporation and Partners in the Park, commemorates the meaning of friendship and the city's famous connection to Winnie the Pooh.
Emceed by Sharon and Bram, the one-day event opened with Winnipeg Mayor Glen Murray and Winnie the Pooh unveiling and raising the first Canadian Pooh Friendship Flag, comprised of colourful drawings created by nine children from across Canada. The drawings were carefully selected by Disney Canada as part of a nationwide contest that asked kids to draw, paint, collage or write their ideas of friendship and submit them for potential inclusion on the flag.
Five of the contest winners excitedly helped with the opening ceremony, including Carlynne Millns (Winnipeg, aged 12), Monica Jepson (Calgary, aged 12), Hanna Pajic (Winnipeg, aged 3), Larissa Peck (Winnipeg, aged 12) and Shantel Ryback (Winnipeg, aged 12). MaryAnn Mihychuk, Minister of Industry, Trade and Mines; Susan Olynik, vice president of public affairs for Manitoba Lotteries, and Hartley Richardson, co-chair of Partners in the Park, also lended a hand to kickoff the event. The other contest winners are Sandra Faktor (Orleans, aged 11), Kelly Hanrahan (Calgary, aged 12), Victoria Hohenwarter (Calgary, aged 5), Jordan Sewall (Calgary, aged 11).
"Winnie the Pooh is special to those young and old," said Gary Doer, Premier of Manitoba and longtime supporter of the festival. "This annual family festival not only celebrates our link to everybody's favourite bear but it has become a special summer event for the entire city and province."
The one-day festival of friendship was jam-packed with plenty of entertainment for adults and children alike. Those in attendance were able to meet Pooh, Tigger, Eeyore and Piglet, as well as enjoy special performances by Canada's R&B diva Deborah Cox, Halifax's country sensation Terry Kelly, children's entertainer Norman Foote and Disney/Pixar's Toy Story 2 featured band, Riders in the Sky.
There were also numerous activities at the Disney Interactive computer tent, Tigger's Dance-a-Rama tent and the Hundred Acre Sandbox. Face painting, bubble blowing and other activities proved a hit with kids throughout the day.
"The infectious message of friendship is spread to children of all ages during Pooh Friendship Day," said Allison Greer, senior marketing manager, Walt Disney Canada. "The Canadian Pooh Friendship Flag will continue to fly in Assiniboine Park throughout the year as a reminder of this fun and inspiring day."
The History of Pooh Friendship Day
Although Winnie the Pooh has been around for decades, Pooh Friendship Day began in 1997, when the United Nations officially named Winnie the Pooh the world's "Ambassador of Friendship." Since then, the Walt Disney Company has held Pooh Friendship Days in Canada, Japan, Australia and the U.S. Disney Canada first celebrated Pooh Friendship Day six years ago in Winnipeg, Niagara Falls and Toronto. Now the Festival's permanent home is Winnipeg, Manitoba - home of the original "Winnie."
