The HBC Foundation Launches 12th Annual Heritage Charity Bear in Honour of Dr. John Rae

Limited Edition Bear Commemorates HBC Surgeon, Fur Trader, and Explorer

TORONTO, Oct. 26, 2016 – The Hudson’s Bay Company Foundation is proud to introduce the 12^th Annual Heritage Charity Bear, John Rae. Since 2005, the HBC Foundation has introduced a bear each year that honours an adventurer who was influential in shaping the history of HBC and Canada. John Rae is $21.99 and 100% of net proceeds from the sale of each Heritage Charity Bear support the HBC Foundation’s Strength in Stripes program, helping Canadians achieve, thrive and win.

John Rae is outfitted in Hudson’s Bay’s recognizable stripes, representing HBC’s rich heritage in Canada. Dr. John Rae joined the Company in 1833, serving as the medical officer at Moose Factor. Very early on, he began establishing relationships with indigenous peoples and learning techniques essential for survival in the North. These survival techniques proved instrumental – John Rae traveled to the arctic in search of the Northwest Passage and discovered the missing link to the long fabled trade route, which led to his learning the fate of the doomed Franklin Expedition.

“The annual HBC Foundation Heritage Charity Bear program not only supports many important causes, it also embodies our company’s rich history”, says Liz Rodbell, President, Hudson’s Bay. “The proceeds from this program provide a vital funding for the HBC Foundation to support charitable programs across Canada and we’re proud to continue this tradition of giving back through this wonderful initiative.”

John Rae is a true collector’s item as there are only 10,500 bears in production this year. To date, the Heritage Charity Bear collection has raised more than $1.6 million to help improve the lives of Canadians. John Rae is available for purchase at Hudson’s Bay, Home Outfitters, and at thebay.com.

About the HBC Foundation
The HBC Foundation is a leading registered charitable organization dedicated to improving the lives of Canadians through Canadian organizations and initiatives that contribute to healthy families, strong communities and sport excellence. Since 2005, the HBC Foundation has donated more than $77 million in cash and in-kind donations to charitable organizations, including our official charitable partners: Canadian Olympic Foundation, Canadian Paralympic Committee, Beauty Gives Back, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada.

About Hudson’s Bay Company
Hudson’s Bay Company is one of the fastest-growing department store retailers in the world, based on its successful formula of driving the performance of high quality stores and their all-channel offerings, unlocking the value of real estate holdings and growing through acquisitions. Founded in 1670, HBC is the oldest company in North America. HBC’s portfolio today includes ten banners, in formats ranging from luxury to better department stores to off price fashion shopping destinations, with more than 470 stores and 66,000 employees around the world.

In North America, HBC’s leading banners include Hudson’s Bay, Lord & Taylor, Saks Fifth Avenue, Gilt, and Saks OFF 5TH, along with Find @ Lord & Taylor and Home Outfitters. In Europe, its banners include GALERIA Kaufhof, the largest department store group in Germany, Belgium’s only department store group Galeria INNO, as well as Sportarena.

HBC has significant investments in real estate joint ventures. It has partnered with Simon Property Group Inc. in the HBS Global Properties Joint Venture, which owns properties in the United States and Germany. In Canada, it has partnered with RioCan Real Estate Investment Trust in the RioCan-HBC Joint Venture.

For further information: MEDIA CONTACT: Alix Herman, 416-256-5186, Alix.herman@hbc.com

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