Saint John Sea Dogs President Wayne Long today announced ttoday hat the teams annual ‘Teddy Bear Toss’ promotion has been cancelled for this season. The popular promotion was scheduled to take place this Sunday against the Halifax Mooseheads on what the team has dubbed ‘Holiday Fun Day.’
A team press release states that it has been cancelled because of “concerns regarding an infestation of hematophagous parasites (bedbugs) that has proliferated throughout south western New Brunswick in recent months.”
“After meeting with several external parties and discussing the matter internally at length, we have decided that we won’t be able to hold the Teddy Bear Toss this season,” said Long in the release. “We contacted several charitable organizations throughout the region, across Canada, and even abroad, and none were willing to accept a donation of stuffed toys from south western New Brunswick due to the bedbug outbreak. It’s unfortunate that this great promotion won’t take place at Harbour Station this year, but we hope that our fans will understand the reason behind the decision.”
Of course, many people are upset over the cancellation of the charitable endeavor. Each year, the bears are donated to local charities across the area in time for the Christmas season. But, as seen at St. Joseph's Hospital, bedbugs have been a serious problem in Saint John over the past few months.
“Charities in Saint John, N.B., are turning away some second-hand donations this Christmas due to fears of a bedbug outbreak,” reports the CBC.
Tossing Teddy Bears is a popular promotion across the Canadian Hockey League this time of year and has traditionally been one of the more popular events in Saint John.
Photo Credit: David Connell Web Album
They should do a food drive or something in its place for the holiday season. Could always have water jugs to throw change in and new teddy bears could be bought for the children.
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