Wildbear Weekend raises funds for local charities

Wildbear Weekend is back for a third year with a Thanksgiving long weekend full of events raising funds for Camp Moomba and A Loving Spoonful.

Started three years ago, Wildbear has grown from a single day to this year's offerings over four days that has so far raised over $5,000 for Camp Moomba, which helps to send children impacted with HIV/AIDS to summer camp. This year organizers have expanded to also raise funds for A Loving Spoonful which provides free, nutritious meals to people living with HIV/AIDS in Greater Vancouver.

Wildbear founder Todd Brisbin (photo right) says that not only have they added the second charity and grown to four days, but this year also includes a number of events beyond the bars and nightclubs.

"The nice thing is that it's not all dancing and drinking as many of these 'bear' weekends can be," says Brisbin. "We've expanded our offerings to appeal to a much wider crowd and even added some more active events like hiking and yoga as well as an art walk through the Davie Village to experience local and international Bearotic artists."

Brisbin also says it is about celebrating the Davie Village; having read in a local newspaper three years ago that declared the Davie Village dead and dying, he set-out to prove that notion wrong.

"I wanted to create something that was more Davie-centric, that celebrated our village and promoted cooperation between venues, organizations and promoters," says Brisbin. "Sure, a couple events happen outside the village, but the focus is still Davie Street and we hope to bring in people from all over to experience the place we love. Our hope is to create a tradition of giving in Vancouver that sets an example of cooperation, friendship and fun."

Wildbear Weekend
5 - 8 October 2012

For more info and full list of events, visit Vancouver's Wild Weekend on Facebook or at http://mnevents.ca.