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Share-A-Bear campaign runs till the new year

B.C. liquor stores will donate teddy bears to charity
Cayley Dobie
northgate liquor burnaby
From left, Northgate B.C. liquor store product consultant David Irving, senior manager Roberta Tasovac, and assistant manager Ho Young Cha holding the brown and white bears up for grabs at B.C. liquor stores until the end of the month.CONTRIBUTED, DIXON TAM

If you’re planning a trip to the liquor store this holiday season, consider picking up a couple of bears.

B.C. liquor stores across the province, including those in Burnaby, are taking part in the annual Share-a-Bear campaign. The campaign has been around since 1989, and for a donation of $12.50, customers get two teddy bears – one they get to take home and a second that gets donated to the charity of the store’s choice, according to a government press release.

“The annual Share-a-Bear campaign has been bringing joy to children and the elderly for more than two decades,” said B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch general manager and CEO Blain Lawson. “Our employees look forward to this program every year for an opportunity to give back to the community, and I am confident this year’s bear design will be very popular.”

There are eight B.C. liquor stores in Burnaby, including SOLO, 4455 Skyline Dr.; HighGate, 7155 Kingsway; North Burnaby, 4450 Hastings St.; Kensington, 6512 Hastings St.; UniverCity, 8992 University High St.; Northgate, 3433 North Rd.; Metrotown, 4429 Kingsway; and Market Crossing, 7509 Market Crossing.

This year, folks can choose a brown or white bear. Both come wearing scarves adorned with the Canada 150 maple leaf.

Since its inception, nearly 650,000 teddy bears have been donated to charities across the province. Last year, three B.C. liquor stores in Dawson Creek, Fort St. John and Prince George sold the most bears, according to the release.

For more information on the campaign click here.

Where are the donated teddy bears going?

  • SOLO – Willingdon Care Centre, seniors’ housing providing complex residential care services.
  • HighGate – Monarch Place, a transition house offering shelter and support to women and children fleeing domestic violence.
  • North Burnaby – No designated charity. Employees choose to support various toy fundraisers in the community as advised by customers.
  • Market Crossing – Monarch Place, a transition house offering shelter and support to women and children fleeing domestic violence.
  • Kensington – Camp Kerry, provides education, support and counselling services to people who are grieving the death of a loved one or coping with a life-threatening illness, and B.C. Children’s Hospital.

Source: B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch