The story of Biker Bear is an interesting one.

It all started when CancerCare Manitoba wanted to commemorate it's 75th anniversary by doing something special. They decided to have a fundraising and awareness campaign by displaying polar bear sculptures along Broadway in the Summer of 2005.

Artists from across of all over Manitoba were asked to submits their ideas and CancerCare Manitoba received over 150 submissions.

One submission was by Sarah and Charles Johnston and it was of Biker Bear.  Their kids thought it would be cool to have a bear ride a chopper.  Sarah sketched the original rendering and when it was reviewed by the CancerCare Manitoba committee, the Breast Cancer Pledge Ride came to mind.  By January of 2005, the BCPR committee accepted the sponsorship for Biker Bear.  Sarah and Charles painted Biker Bear and the chopper was made by Indiraj Jhass. 

He scavenged the parts from his father-in-law's farm. The back wheel was from an International Scout 4x4.  The back was comprised of a back fender that was a utility trailer fender, complete with a sissy bar, a passenger seat and a personalized licence plate - BEAR.  The Springer front end was made up of conduit pipe, donated by Forest Park Electric.  The old barrow bar springs made the Springer front forks look like they actually worked.  The pick-up truck shock gave the Springer its primitive mechanical action.  The headlight was made up of an old non-stick pot.  "The bike should look like the bear scrounged around for the parts himself" said Jhass.

A total of 62 seven foot tall polar bears were cast in concrete, each weighing 8,000 pounds or 3,600 kilograms. The "Bears" spent the Winter at Kapyong Barracks getting groomed for their big debut.  One night in May of 2005, the bears migrated to their temporary home...Broadway.

Biker Bear took over Broadway and Hargrave and quickly became a crowd favourite.  Such a favourite in fact that he won the "People's Choice" award in a Winnipeg Free Press contest.

The BCPR committee decided to auction Biker Bear.  Dan Roche of N/C Machine & Tool Company was the successful bidder.  In the Spring of 2006, Biker Bear (now name "PJ") moved to his new home in Inkster Industrial Park.  Over 20 motorcycles escorted PJ to Hutchings Street. 

Feel free to drop by and say hi to him.  He loves company.