Nanaimo RCMP’s Nanaimo Bear is about to make his way out of town on a solo sojourn across Canada.
Nanaimo RCMP’s unofficial mascot was introduced to the public along with his plan to travel solo, well, actually with the help of travellers willing to take Bear under their wing to help him get to Newfoundland.
To help travellers help Bear, Nanaimo RCMP have sewn a note into Bear’s little red serge coat - bear is travelling in formal dress uniform – bearing instructions on how to get Bear across all those time zones. The note also has instructions on how to post pictures, video and notes about all the places Bear sees along the way before he finally dips his little paws in the Atlantic Ocean.
Nanaimo RCMP members thought attaching the note was a good precaution since Bear is reportedly shy and not overly talkative, so it might otherwise be hard for strangers to understand that it’s OK to pick the little honourary Mountie up and take him along on their adventures.
“It has the contact information, the hashtag, the e-mail,” said Const. Gary O’Brien, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman. “People can post to their Facebook and Twitter with a hashtag and then if they want to send a video they can send it to that e-mail.”
O’Brien will get Bear started on his travels when he surreptitiously leaves the furry little guy in an undisclosed location frequented by travellers Monday morning, Aug. 16, and will likely even maintain low-profile surveillance until Bear is scooped up by a passerby.
People who encounter Bear on their travels are asked to text #nanaimobear to the Nanaimo RCMP Twitter account @nanaimorcmp or post pictures on the Nanaimo RCMP Facebook page. Videos and e-mails of Bear sightings can also be sent to Nanaimo_Media@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.