White River Heritage Museum

On the day we stopped in White River, Ontario, Canada, May 11, we were told by the lady at the Visitor Information Centre that she had just received a call from her friend two blocks down the street at the White River Heritage Museum. The curator of this small part-time museum, which normally doesn't open for the season until June, said she was there putting up some new displays and had decided to open early. That's how we came to be the very first visitors to White River Heritage Museum for the 2004 season.

Since White River was the birthplace of Winnie-the-Pooh, this small facility houses hundreds of items in it's Winnie-the-Pooh collections, plus a few Railroad Displays and local Historical Exhibits. There is also a small gift shop. "Pooh" lovers of all ages will especially enjoy this museum, and so will railroad and history buffs. We qualified on all three counts.

Winnie-the-Pooh Statue, White River, Ontario, Canada

This colorful twenty-five-foot statue of Winnie-the-Pooh in a tree honors the birthplace of White River's most famous citizen. It is in White River Visitor Park, clearly seen from the south side of the Trans-Canada Highway.On August 24, 1914, during the First World War, a tiny female black bear cub was brought by a local trapper to the Canadian Pacific Railway Station in White River.

On this fateful day a troop train bound for Val Cartier, Quebec, stopped at the CPR station and a young Canadian Army veterinarian, Lt. Harry Colebourn from Winnipeg, disembarked. He noticed the little bear cub and purchased her from the trapper for $20. Colebourn named the cub Winnipeg, later shortened to Winnie, after his home town.

Winnie became the mascot of the 34th Fort Garry Horse Regiment and accompanied them overseas to England. When the regiment received orders to go to the front lines in France, Winnie was left in care of the London Zoo.

Winnie was an exceptional and gentle bear and soon became the feature attraction at the zoo. She captivated the hearts of many Londoners, especially Christopher Robin Milne, son of the author A. A. Milne, who wrote the stories of Winnie-the-Pooh. The cub from White River gave her name to the "Winnie-the-Pooh character, and A. A. Milne, along with illustrator E. H. Shepard, gave Winnie-the-Pooh to the world.

If you're ever in White River, you MUST stop and have your picture made with Winnie. White River proudly proclaims its status as the birthplace of Winnie-the-Pooh by celebrating Winnie's Hometown Festival, which is held the third weekend in August every year.

White River, Ontario, Canada - Birthplace of Winnie-the-Pooh

White River, Ontario, is a community of 1,000 people, located along the Trans-Canada Highway, 3.5 hours north of Sault Ste. Marie and 4 hours east of Thunder Bay. It was established in 1885, as a railroad stop, half way between Winnipeg and Toronto. Set amidst the rugged and picturesque boreal forest of the Canadian Shield, it is also a center for lumbering.

For such a remote small town, White River has two claims to fame. It is one of the coldest spots in North America, with winter temperatures sometimes dipping to less than -60 F (-50 C). More importantly, to us, White River is the birthplace of one of childhood's most endearing characters, Winnie-the-Pooh.

Would you believe that in this remote outpost we found one of the only Tourist Information Centres in Northern Ontario that is actually open year round. The building depicts the White River Canadian Pacific Railway Station of 1940. In it you will find wash rooms, Winnie-the-Pooh memorbilia for sale, and information on the local area, including snowmobiling opportunities in winter. The lady operating the centre was very friendly and helpful.

The White River Tourist Information Centre is on the Trans-Canada Highway at Elgin Street. It is open 8-5 daily, except holidays.