In Burk’s Falls, the image of Pete the Bear is iconic. For residents, Pete and owner Charlie Purdie represent a rich piece of the village’s history.
Pete was abandoned by his mother after she was startled by a dog. The one-month-old cub was taken in by Charlie, and for 31 years he lived at Purdie’s Gas Station in Burk’s Falls. From 1948 until 1979, it became a tradition for travellers coming through the area to pop by for a visit with Pete. The bear weighed in at 450 pounds and was known to have a fondness for ice cream!
For years, an 8-foot wooden carving of Pete stood in Stan Darling Park. However, age and the elements took their toll, and the statue had to be removed for safety reasons. It prompted an outcry from concerned community members who wanted to preserve Pete’s memory. Burk’s Falls Councillor Ryan Baptiste told 705BLACKFLY.COM that the village wanted to address the issue but did not have a budget to repair or replace the statue. The solution came when they were contacted by local chainsaw sculptor, Jake Rhodes, who is donating a new statue.
“I love the guy’s work,” said Baptiste. “It’s almost an honour to have him donate something like that to the municipality to share and hopefully bring more people in.”
Jake, who owns Northern Rhodes Artistry In Wood, has won multiple international competitions, and his award-winning work is adored by the community. The new statue will include plaques about both Pete’s history and Jake’s incredible artwork. The new statue will be unveiled on Canada Day.
For more about Pete the Bear and the new statue, listen to the attached audio file for our interview with Burk’s Falls councillor Ryan Baptiste.
If you missed our earlier video about chainsaw artist Jake Rhodes, click on the link! https://705blackfly.com/chainsaw-sculptor-jake-rhodes/
