Teddy Bear Picnic at Riverbend Park on June 20

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Published on Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Neepawa Press archive

By Miranda Leybourne

Submitted

The annual Teddy Bear Picnic, hosted by ArtsForward, will be back at Riverbend Park in Neepawa on June 20 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. It’s a chance for preschool aged children to bring their favourite stuffed animal and have some fun, while learning about healthcare in a non-threatening environment.

The event was first put on by the local regional health authority and Public Health. ArtsForward has hosted the free event for the last six years.

According to Kathleen Guillas, who works at ArtsForward, it’s a great opportunity for children to become more comfortable with the whole healthcare world.

“The children take their teddy bears to the event and their bears get treated by public health nurses, ambulance, RCMP and dental health providers as well as nutritionists,” she says. “The children see how their bear gets vaccinated or has its teeth brushed, and therefore it won’t seem so scary to them the next time they go to see the doctor or see the RCMP.”

Caregivers and parents are encouraged to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at the event. There will also be stations with music, activities and crafts. Guillas says that in the past, the event has seen over 100 people attend, and she hopes it will be popular again this year.