NORTHWEST TERRITORIES
Late last week Fort Smith Mayor Brad Brake became aware that a popular roadside attraction outside his community was the target of vandals for the second time in three years.

Teddy Bear Junction, a popular attraction along Highway 5 between Hay River and Fort Smith, was the target of vandals last week who set fire to the collection of stuffed toys. - NNSL file photo

On. Oct. 4, Brake alerted community members through social media that Teddy Bear Junction, a site along Highway 5 between Fort Smith and Hay River, had been set on fire.

"One of my friends from Hay River posted that it's been all burnt up again," Brake told News/North.

"It's happened a number of times and it's something that I think needs to be addressed." The last time Teddy Bear Junction burned in September 2012, News/North reported it looked like somebody had taken the line of stuffed animals - nearly 100 total - piled them up with the benches and chair they had been perched on, and set fire to it all.

At the time, Fort Smith Metis Council president told the paper he was "sickened" by the carnage and said, "Somebody has got a real hatred for teddy bears."

Teddy Bear Junction isn't the only site that has laid victim to vandals in the area. Last year, the lights on the town Christmas tree were torn down, Brake said. As well, another large tree at the junction near the teddy bears was targeted.

The commander of the RCMP detachment in Hay River confirmed that someone had burnt the teddy bears over the Oct. 3 weekend, RCMP spokesperson Elenore Sturko said.

"He described it as a senseless and disheartening act," Sturko wrote in an e-mail to News/North, adding the site was something community members had built up to make people smile when they drove by.

"It was not officially reported to the RCMP and given the location and nature of the vandalism . there may not be any evidence left to investigate."

If anyone comes forward with further information about who is responsible for the fire, Sturko said the RCMP would look into it.

Brake did not see the site himself, only having heard about the incident from a friend, but said it is certainly a part of a larger problem in the community.

"It's not that big in the grand scheme of things but for a lot of people and a lot of kids in the community, it was something they looked forward to seeing," she said.

"People put a lot of pride into what goes on out there, putting teddy bears there - it started from within Fort Smith and a lot of Fort Smithers put time into keeping that up."

Teddy Bear Junction started some time in 2007, when an unknown person set out a single teddy bear on the side of the highway. In the ensuing years, people added to the pile.

The last time the junction was burnt, Brake said community members went out and cleaned it up, replacing the stuffed animals.

He said he hopes by making people aware, someone may again decide to step up and rebuild the roadside attraction again.

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