Small Town Claims to Fame

As we travel across the North of Lake Superior we have a quick coffee break at White River, which proudly advertises its two claims to fame. The first, it has the second lowest recorded temperature in Canada, -72 F (-58 C). The second is the town’s link to A.A Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh. It’s a decent story. A young Canadian Veterinary Officer was traveling across the country with his Cavalry Regiment (en route to the UK and WW I) when they stopped at White River and he decided it would be a good idea to purchase a bear cub as the unit’s mascot. Upon arriving in the UK, common sense prevailed and he donated the bear (named Winnie, after his home town of Winnipeg) to the London Zoo. Milne’s son visited the zoo regularly, and named his teddy bear after Winnie. The rest is history.Read more