Visitors to Berczy Park are now spotting more than the famous dog fountain. A beaver statue nicknamed Doug has drawn large crowds to the Toronto park. Doug is part of a World Cup-linked scavenger hunt in Old Town Toronto. The contest asks people to locate 51 beaver sculptures placed across the area.
Old Town sits about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) from Toronto Stadium. The stadium will stage six World Cup matches, starting Friday. Canada, one of three host nations, plays Bosnia and Herzegovina in that opener. City officials expect 300,000 visitors to arrive in Toronto during three weeks.
World Cup beaver statues in Old Town Toronto
Organisers said the beaver hunt is meant to give fans something simple to do. It is also designed to guide tourists through Old Town streets and shops. "We expect
that it's going to be something that people who are coming in from out of town and looking for something to do and keep their kids busy will love to do. It's easy to participate,\" said Robyn Posner.
The event is called The Great Beaver Quest. It places 51 resin fibreglass beavers around the Old Town Toronto neighbourhood. Most stand nearly 4 feet (1.2 metres) tall. They appear in parks, on pavements, and inside buildings. Norway's beaver looks out from an office lobby window.
The Great Beaver Quest and Old Town Toronto businesses
Posner said the hunt aims to build interest in the neighbourhood itself. It also encourages visitors to spend time with local companies. "The goal was to draw people to this area, to come and experience what it's like being in Old Town and to meet up with some like-minded people," Posner said.
Forty-nine statues represent teams in the World Cup, including two for Canada. Two others stand for FIFA and all nations combined. Each sculpture is hand-painted by a different local artist. Doug wears a Canada-themed football kit under a red flannel shirt.
QR code scavenger hunt for World Cup beaver statues
Each beaver includes a QR code that opens a free digital scavenger hunt. Players collect points by finding statues across the area. Weekly prizes go to the highest scorers and one random draw winner. The contest runs until Aug. 16, then the beavers will be auctioned for charity.
The hunt officially started on June 1 and kept growing. As of Tuesday, 4,500 people had taken part, according to Posner. Officials chose beavers because they are Canada's national animal. "Because it's Canada's national animal, and we thought they were super cute," Posner said. "And they're small enough. And so, we went with the beaver. "
With inputs from PTI
