Southampton Rotary Club's bear, Hampton (left) and Port Elgin's soon-to-be named bear will be common sightings at many Saugeen Shores events.

Hub Staff

Reports of bear sightings in Saugeen Shores over the last few weeks are growing in number but local Rotary Club members say there is no need for concern as these bears are friendly and have neither teeth nor claws.

The bears are 'teddy' in style and belong to the Southampton and Port Elgin Rotary Clubs who, along with other Rotary Clubs in District 6330, were given to each club by District Governor, Diane Chantler to look after until their district conference in June next year.

“Each Rotary Club has been given a bear and we have to take him to things, have his picture taken with stuff and then in June of next year, he'll be auctioned off for charity for the Rotary Foundation's End Polio Now campaign,” explained Southampton Rotarian, Tony Sheard.

Chantler started a HOPE Bear Campaign in 2002, at her own club selling teddy bears to end Polio and Port Elgin Rotary Club President, Bob Lunney said that now as district governor she has gone to every one of the Rotary Clubs in the district and given them their own teddy bear.

Lunney said that they have to document the bear's adventures and then put a collage of pictures together. “We'll put that [collage] on the huge wall at the district conference with each one of the other Rotary Clubs,” he explained, adding, “whehter it's members of another community to buy the it [at the auction] or if I want the bear I'll buy it and bring it home. It's kind of a fun thing.”

Sheard said that the Southampton Rotary Club have named their bear Hampton after Southampton, although Lunney said that the final name on the Port Elgin bear hasn't yet been decided.

“The club wanted to name him Robbie. Since I'm the president they thought that he should be named after me,” said Lunney. “I think because Southampton named theirs Hampton, we should name ours Elgin.”

Both bears have already been to a number of Saugeen Shores events. Hampton has been spotted at Southampton Sweater Day and the unveiling of the train mural at the Southampton Market while Port Elgin's bear was seen at Ribfeast as well as this weekend's Presidents Barbecue.

So if you see a grown man or woman walking around Saugeen Shores hugging a teddy bear, chances are that they're a local Rotarian out, as usual, for a good cause.

Hampton was spotted out and dressed for the occasion at the first annual Southampton Sweater Day August 27 with Rotarians Tony and Sylvia Sheard.

Port Elgin Rotary Club President, Bob Lunney hanging out with the club's latest member.