2014 Hudson's Bay Company HBC 10th Annual Heritage Charity Bear - Maud

Each year, the Foundation introduces a bear that pays homage to an HBC adventurer and celebrates the rich and storied history of the Company, with 100% of net proceeds supporting Canadian charities. With only 15,000 bears in production, Maud is a true Canadian collector's item. Outfitted in an HBC signature-striped bow, Maud pays tribute to Maud Watt, wife of James Watt of Rupert House, QC, who was instrumental in establishing a beaver preserve in the James Bay region. By 1929, Canada's beaver population had been reduced to such an extent that the animal was nearing extinction in some areas. The success of the Watt's first beaver preserve in 1933 spawned similar initiatives in the North West Territories and Ontario, and by 1944 HBC-managed sanctuaries covered more than 43,000 square miles. Maud was appointed as the first female game warden in Quebec, and in 1969 she became the only woman ever to be inducted into Montreal's famous Beaver Club in honour of her long service to the fur trade. Items come from a pet friendly home! We love our earth and we like to use recycled packaging in an effort to decrease our impact on the environment! Thank you for understanding! 🌎