'Sad for us': The farewell party for two polar bears going to Calgary
The two bears are moving to Calgary to be part of a new exhibit at the Calgary Zoo. (Source: Daniel Timmerman, CTV News)
Two beloved polar bears at the Assiniboine Park Zoo are saying farewell to Winnipeg and heading to their new digs out west.
Baffin and Siku were orphaned before their first birthday and found wandering near Churchill.
"When Siku arrived, he was actually the smallest bear that ever came in. I believe he was about 80 lbs, super skinny, very hungry," said Brianne Fast, an animal care professional at the zoo.
Now, the polar bear has a very outgoing personality. "He absolutely adores any and all attention from people," said Fast, telling a story about Siku following her around the enclosure.
The two bears are moving to Calgary to be part of a new exhibit at the Calgary Zoo. Fast says it's a bittersweet feeling to see them go.
"It's sad for us, but we're also very excited for them," said Fast. "The facility that they're going to, they have really good opportunities to have a lot on one-on one-interaction and training sessions that they're not able to do here with such a large group of bears."
The Calgary Zoo has built a new facility specifically for Baffin and Siku. They will be the first polar bears to live in Calgary since 1999.
On Saturday, the Assiniboine Park Zoo hosted a farewell party to say goodbye to Baffin and Siku.
The new exhibit is slated to open to the Calgary public in December.
Shopping Trends
The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop. Read about us.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING
BREAKING Amber Alert issued for missing 2-month-old girl in B.C.
An Amber Alert has been issued province-wide in British Columbia as Surrey RCMP search for a two-month-old child they believe has been abducted.
BREAKING
BREAKING Dodgers beat out Blue Jays, sign coveted free agent Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani agrees to $700 million, 10-year contract with Los Angeles Dodgers.
Mideast ministers in Ottawa to discuss Israel-Hamas war with Joly, Trudeau
A group of foreign ministers from the Palestinian Authority, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye are in Ottawa today for a quietly planned meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly to discuss attempts to end the Israel-Hamas war.
A pregnant Texas woman asked a court for permission to get an abortion, despite a ban. What's next?
Kate Cox, a mother of two in Texas, became pregnant again in August but soon after learned devastating news: Her baby has a fatal condition and is likely to either be stillborn or die shortly after birth.
Thousands of revelers descend on NYC for annual Santa-themed bar crawl SantaCon
Here come Santa Clauses. Again. Throngs of people dressed as jolly Old St. Nick descended on New York City for the annual SantaCon charity pub crawl on Saturday.
Extremely rare white alligator is born at a Florida reptile park
An extremely rare white leucistic alligator has been born at a Florida reptile park. The 19.2-inch (49 cm) female slithered out of its shell and into the history books as one of a few known leucistic alligators, Gatorland Orlando said Thursday.
Minnesota grocery store clerk dies after customer impales him with a golf club, police say
A Minneapolis store clerk died after a customer beat him and impaled him with a golf club, police said. The 66-year-old clerk was attacked Friday at the Oak Grove Grocery, a small neighborhood store in a residential area near downtown Minneapolis. A 44-year-old suspect is jailed on suspicion of murder.
A Soviet-era statue of a Red Army commander taken down in Kyiv
City workers in Kyiv on Saturday dismantled an equestrian statue of a Red Army commander, the latest Soviet monument to be removed in the Ukrainian capital since Russia launched its full-scale invasion last year.
Ibrahim Ali found guilty of killing 13-year-old girl in B.C.
A jury has found Ibrahim Ali guilty of killing a 13-year-old girl whose body was found in a Burnaby, B.C., park in 2017.
Regina
-
Two people dead following house fire in Regina, crews investigating
The Regina Police Service (RPS), along with Regina Fire and the Saskatchewan Coroners Service are investigating after two people died in a house fire in Regina.
-
5 heated highlights from Saskatchewan's fall legislative sesson
Sparring over ideological differences is a key fixture of any parliamentary democracy. However, some moments in the fall session seemed especially tense in Saskatchewan’s legislative chambers.
-
Esterhazy community pulls together from preschool cyber attack
Esterhazy’s Growing Tree Preschool recently fell victim to a cyber scam resulting in approximately $20,000 being stolen from the not-for-profit’s financial accounts.
Saskatoon
-
Saskatoon youth use lived experience to help design new group home
A young woman has used her lived experience to help design Saskatoon’s second mental health group home.
-
Saskatoon projects $13M in surpluses, could the money go to taxpayers?
After lengthy budget talks last week, where city councillors spent nearly 30 hours searching for savings, there's a new twist.
-
5 heated highlights from Saskatchewan's fall legislative sesson
Sparring over ideological differences is a key fixture of any parliamentary democracy. However, some moments in the fall session seemed especially tense in Saskatchewan’s legislative chambers.
Northern Ontario
-
Tougher rules likely mean fewer international students will come north
The federal government announced this week that international students who apply for a study permit will need to show they have more than $20,000 to cover their tuition and living expenses.
-
Marathon Conservative carbon tax filibuster ends after nearly 30 consecutive hours of House votes
The Conservative-prompted filibuster in the House of Commons ended Friday night, after MPs spent nearly 30 hours voting non-stop on the government's spending plans.
-
Timmins lawyer being investigated for misconduct
An assistant Crown attorney in Timmins is facing a Law Society Tribunal related to allegations of misconduct.
Edmonton
-
Bouchard's three-point performance keeps Oilers streaking with 4-3 victory over Wild
Evan Bouchard has been red hot from the blue line for the Edmonton Oilers of late.
-
Parks Canada accepts recommendations from review into out-of-control fire in Banff
An independent review into a prescribed fire that led to evacuations in a popular tourist town in Banff National Park has made a series of recommendations to try to prevent it from happening again.
-
Alberta finance minister says he has not 'flip-flopped' on proposed pension change
Finance Minister Nate Horner — after promising any stand-alone Alberta pension plan would not follow the contentious Quebec model, then saying it might, then saying it won't — told reporters Friday that possibility is back on the table.
Toronto
-
BREAKINGBREAKING Dodgers beat out Blue Jays, sign coveted free agent Ohtani
Shohei Ohtani agrees to $700 million, 10-year contract with Los Angeles Dodgers.
-
Shark Tank’s Robert Herjavec responds to Shohei Ohtani plane drama
Three-time all-star Shohei Ohtani’s dramatic plane tracking saga left one Canadian amused – Shark Tank and Dragons' Den investor Robert Herjavec.
-
Police identify second suspect in robbery, stabbing of off-duty cop at Best Buy in Toronto
Police identified another suspect and released new images in connection with a theft and stabbing at a Best Buy in Toronto on Wednesday that injured an off-duty officer in Toronto.
Calgary
-
Calgary police launch holiday season check stop campaign Friday night
Calgary police launched their holiday check stop campaign Friday night.
-
Broken watermain in south Calgary floods basement of home under renovation
Firefighters dealt with a watermain break in southwest Calgary Friday night.
-
Hurricane power play erupts for 4 goals as Hurricanes defeat Broncos 5-3
Lethbridge rode a revived power play to a 5-3 victory over the Swift Current Broncos in a Friday night showdown at the Enmax Centre.
Montreal
-
Bill 15: Quebec health reform passes after gov't invokes closure
After sitting through the night, early Saturday morning, members of the Quebec legislature finally passed Bill 15 to reform the health-care network, voting 75 to 27.
-
West Island naturopath fined $120,000 for recidivist 'illegal' practice
A Pointe-Claire naturopath has been ordered by the courts to pay $125,000 in fines for the illegal practice of medicine and for leading people to believe that he was authorized to perform acts reserved for members of the Quebec College of Physicians.
-
Tuition fees: Quebec's English-language universities submit new proposal
Quebec's English-language universities have made what they call an 'improved' proposal to the Legault government regarding tuition fee increases for new international students and students from other Canadian provinces.
Ottawa
-
OPP lay charges in 'major assault' that hospitalized 2 people
Ontario Provincial Police say charges have been laid following a "major assault" early Saturday morning in Arnprior.
-
Here's how much it costs to rent an apartment in Ottawa in November
The average cost to rent a one-bedroom apartment in Ottawa surpassed $2,100 a month in November, as the average price of an apartment hit the highest levels of 2023.
-
Man facing impaired driving charge after hitting ditch on Hwy. 417
A driver is facing a 90-day licence suspension after crashing into a ditch off the Queensway.
Atlantic
-
3 dead, 3 injured after collision in P.E.I.
The Queens District RCMP has arrested a 20-year-old man after a fatal collision in P.E.I. left three people dead and three others seriously injured.
-
Community groups step in to help Halifax's homeless population
A community takeover of two major tent encampments in the Halifax region sheds light on the gravity of the homeless crisis, but also exposes a contrast between the swift community mobilization and the government's sluggish response.
-
Maritimes to see heavy rain and strong winds Monday
A strengthening low pressure system will move out of the northeastern U.S., across northern New Brunswick, and over the Gaspe Peninsula of Quebec on Monday.
Kitchener
-
Multiple shots reportedly fired into Kitchener crowd
Police are investigating a shooting in a Kitchener neighbourhood that sent one person to hospital.
-
Truck hits LRT train in Waterloo
A truck hit an ION train on Saturday morning, shutting down a Waterloo street.
-
Two youths charged after Cambridge robbery
Two male youths are charged with an armed robbery in Cambridge.
Vancouver
-
BREAKING
BREAKING Amber Alert issued for missing 2-month-old girl in B.C.
An Amber Alert has been issued province-wide in British Columbia as Surrey RCMP search for a two-month-old child they believe has been abducted.
-
1 hospitalized, mobility scooter overturned at scene of Maple Ridge crash
One person was taken to hospital in serious condition after a crash in Maple Ridge Saturday morning.
-
Mission RCMP seek suspect vehicle in Real Canadian Superstore shooting
Mounties in Mission, B.C., are asking any witnesses to come forward after a man was shot numerous times Wednesday night at a Real Canadian Superstore parking lot in the city.
Vancouver Island
-
Taiwan-Canada ties surge as supporters tout trade, politics and shared values
Somewhere at the confluence of politics, commerce and shared values driving a recent wave of Canadian fascination with Taiwan, there were the island's "freedom pineapples."
-
Leonard Marchand named new chief justice of British Columbia
Leonard Marchand has been appointed as the new chief justice of the B.C. and Yukon Courts of Appeal in what the B.C. attorney general calls "a historic appointment."
-
How a volunteer search group brought closure to the family of missing woman Melissa McDevitt
It's a story of perseverance and dedication: A small group of volunteers who formed an unbreakable bond, spending countless hours away from their own loved ones to bring closure to the family of Melissa McDevitt, a family thousands of kilometres away in another country.
