Historical
roots
In 1914, a World War I captain from
Winnipeg, Harry Colebourn, took
a black bear cub to England as
his regiment's mascot. When
Colebourn shipped out for
France he donated the bear,
named Winnie after his
hometown, to the London
Zoo. Author A. A. Milne and
his son Christopher Robin
loved "Winnie the Bear"
and Milne crafted the much-
adored stories about his boy and
the bear that we still enjoy today,
known as Winnie the Pooh.
In 1939, King George VI gave a historic speech in Winnipeg
via radio, only weeks before declaring Britain's entry into
World War II. He spoke to the Commonwealth's empire of
300 million people while he sat at a desk in the library of
Government House, which is the historic residence of the
Lieutenant Governor of Manitoba.
Pine Street—in
Winnipeg's West
End—was home to
three WWI soldiers
who received the
Victoria Cross for
their bravery in battle.
The street was renamed
Valour Road in honour of these
three courageous citizens. Only 96
Victoria Crosses have ever been
awarded to Canadians.
Photo
courtesty
Matson
Photo
Service
