Meet Inukshuk

Inukshuk was a polar bear who called Cochrane home. Rescued as an orphaned cub from the Hudson Bay coast when he was only a few months old, he lived at several facilities, including the Toronto Zoo and Zoo Sauvage, before coming to the Cochrane Polar Bear Habitat, the largest natural habitat for captive polar bears in the world.

He spent much of his life here. For 22 years he was part of this town, and generations of Cochrane kids, our owner among them, grew up visiting the bears. Inukshuk was a gentle, people-loving bear, famous for his nose scrunch and his playful streak, who built real trust with the staff who cared for him. He brought a lot of joy and taught this community plenty about resilience, playfulness, and the importance of connection. He also played an important part in research that continues to improve how polar bears are looked after.

On August 26, 2024, after being diagnosed with kidney disease, Inukshuk passed away. His ashes were scattered over the habitat's lake enclosure, the place he loved most, and he is remembered there today with a portrait, a plaque, and a tree planted in the habitat's memorial grove.

When Inukshuk passed, we wanted to do something that would keep him part of Cochrane for the people who knew him. So we asked the community for name suggestions, and the answer came back loud and clear: Inukshuk. Carrying that name forward with our mascot is our way of honouring his legacy and saying thank you to a bear who gave this town so much.

The qualities people associate with Inukshuk, safety, hope, and friendship, are the same ones we try to bring to every driveway, lawn, and project we take on. He is a reminder of where we come from and who we work for: our neighbours.