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BC Parks Mascot Jerry the Moose Was Ordered to Slim Down

'Thinner, fitter' version of Expo 86 Jerry dictated by bureaucrats, say FOI documents.

By Bob Mackin, 15 Jul 2011, TheTyee.ca

Jerry the Moose

Jerry the Moose on his current tour of BC. Photo: BC Parks.

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"Jerry! Hello!"

Meet Jerry the Moose. The "moose-cot," if you will, for B.C. Parks. The provincial government resurrected the mascot it introduced at Expo 86's B.C. Pavilion, in time for the BC Parks' 2011 centennial.

Documents obtained under Freedom of Information say that the new mascot suit is "thinner, fitter" than the Expo 86 version "to support how parks can contribute to healthy living." Each new svelte suit costs taxpayers almost $5,000 and conceals a Ministry of Environment staffer or volunteer.

Jerry is based on a real moose-on-the-loose, which was found orphaned in 1960 at Endako, raised in Wells Gray Provincial Park and eventually retired to the Calgary Zoo.

A pair of mascot suits were ordered in August 2009 for $9,999 from Sugar's Mascot Costumes in Toronto. The care and instruction guide shows a Jofa hockey helmet inside the head and it comes with a built-in exhaust fan capable of moving 35 cubic feet of air per minute. The cooling system requires eight AA non-rechargeable batteries, which must be inserted correctly. "Otherwise they could leak alkaline battery solution and cause injury," the guide warns.

Another four costumes were needed to satisfy each of B.C.'s six parks regions. The ministry went shopping in Ontario again. This time, it spent $10,700 with Moorshead and Associates in Etobicoke, Ont., which offered $6,800 less than Sugar's. The third bidder was Creatix Studios of Langley, known in mascot circles for its A&W Root Bear, Capilano Suspension Bridge Raccoon, and 99.3 the Fox foxes. The Creatix bid was censored, for fear that disclosure would harm government financial interests of a public body or reveal third-party trade secrets.

No drinking in public

It's not easy being a moose. The Jerry the Moose Resource Booklet includes a laundry list of apparel: head, two antlers, T-shirt, fur shirt/jacket, fur pants, white mesh abdomen, two hands/gloves and two shoes/feet, fan.

There are also strict rules of engagement. "Jerry the Moose represents BC Parks and the government as a whole... the mascot should not appear at private functions (ie. children's birthday parties) or other inappropriate venues that might tarnish the reputation of BC parks or government (ie., 'the bar')."

The booklet also says that while wearing the suit mascot actors must have a handler for safety, never speak or make inappropriate gestures, signs or movements and may not pick-up children. They can't be seen eating, drinking or smoking. When they dress or undress, it must be in a private room, not, for example, a public restroom.

Jerry will be appearing Saturday in Vancouver's Stanley Park at Brockton Oval for Parks Canada's centennial celebration. He will be there as a guest of Parka the Beaver.

BC Parks also has spent $6,785 for 25,000 moose antlers headbands, $3,330,36 on 33,825 stickers and $2,319.41 on 10,000 Jerry the Moose BC Parks 100 buttons.

In other mascot news, a glut of Olympic Migas and Mukmuks selling for $1.50 and up languish at Northern Gifts' Burnaby warehouse.

No sign lately of Expo Ernie, the mascot for Expo '86, who some considered rotund for a robot of his height. You be the judge. [Tyee]

Bob Mackin is a freelance reporter in Vancouver and a regular contributor to The Tyee. Read his previous Tyee stories here.

11 Comments:

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  • cboo44

    45 weeks ago

    "Jerry the Moose"

    I happen to be a member of the family from near Endako who raised Jerry from 2 days old until age 2 1/2 years, on our farm. It was my task to feed him with warm milk mixed with "calf starter" mash. He had a habit of grazing with the horses, but would come when he called for mealtime(3 times a day).

    During his stay at the Game Biology Station at Clearwater, Jerry was the very first bull moose to breed while in captivity. In the several years residence at the Clearwater Station he contributed endless biological information to the Ministry researchers. He was then "traded" to Al Oemings "Alberta Game Farm" for an elk(I think).

    In 1966 on my way home on leave from the Navy, I stopped at the Game Farm to see if Jerry was still there. I introduced myself to Oeming and he took me over to Jerry's compound, which, because he was now a huge bull moose and quite aggressive at times, was a 7' high log enclosure. I was warned that Jerry could be very aggressive. I walked up to the enclosure, called his name, Jerry raised his head and immediately came racing over to where I was. He dropped down on his front knees and tried to stick his nose sideways between the logs, making whining noises like he was a calf !! Oeming said "THAT'S the damndest thing I've EVER seen !!"

    I see NO problem with making the Parks mascot "slim, trim and fit", Jerry sure was.

  • freebear

    45 weeks ago

    Well spent FOI request?

    The only story here is the one told by cboo44; which was great by the way!

  • cboo44

    45 weeks ago

    Jerry

    There is also a statue of "Jerry the Moose" outside the Clearwater Tourism Centre.

  • G West

    45 weeks ago

    They traded Jerry for an ELK?

    You've got to be kidding.

    What finally happened to the old fella - most retiree's come from Alberta to BC - not the other way round.

    Good story choo44 - best thing I've ever seen you write here at Tyee.

    Well done.

  • cboo44

    45 weeks ago

    Jerry

    That's because we rarely agree on political issues, that's all !! :) It's never personal.

    I don't know. I lost track, left the Navy in late '66 and then did two tours in SE Asia with another outfit, came home and management had changed at the Alberta Game Farm so got no answers to inquiries.
    I should dig around in the collection of old photos and preserve them. Have one of him with his head sticking in the kitchen window, when he thought it was "meal time". :)

  • newphorik

    45 weeks ago

    ThankYou Cboo44

    Your story makes it seem slightly ok that I pass this website one to people for a peek at "real news"... Tyee: WTF are you thinking? I wouldn't expect crap like this in the Province... FYI: ALL battery operated equipment requires correct insertion of alkaline batteries. I reconsider, FOX news might pick this up before the Province.

  • G West

    45 weeks ago

    cboo44 - I know it's not personal

    I still think it's the best thing you've ever written here. And I'll look forward to more stories...and the pictures too, if you can find them.

    I don't doubt Tyee would be happy to post them as well.

    Cheers.

  • Alan Abel

    45 weeks ago

    Not sure which is more trivial

    I'm struggling to determine which aspect of this "story" is more trivial, the slimming of the moose, or the Tyee's decision to dedicate an entire investigative piece to this part of an FOI request. Is this what happens when the media spends cash on an FOI and discovers there's actually nothing newsworthy, yet they still insist on getting their money's worth?

    Good grief!

  • G West

    44 weeks ago

    Au Contraire M. Abel

    I think this is a very valuable article.

    It helps demonstrate the mindset of this ministry - the same ministry, you'll remember, that slashed funding for parks to the point that there are now only l0 full-time park rangers left in the province, and volunteer organizations are getting burned out from doing trail work that is no longer funded by the province.

    The fact these drelbs would actually put money into something so stupid as a 'marketing program' to thin-out a mascot while the parks themselves are being starved is a cautionary tale that all British Columbians should be thinking about.

  • Denis

    44 weeks ago

    Gerry the Moose

    Right on G West.
    However I would suggest that this does not reflect the mindset of the Ministry but rather the mindset of the Liberal Government. Parks and Environment personnel are probably the most dedicated individuals in the Prov'l Civil Service and are really struggling to try to do their job.
    Gerry has been a well loved Mascot ever since he first appeared in Goldstram Park more than 20 years ago.
    He may be a little slimmer which is probably a good thing, however his message will have to be pretty slim as well as there is really no reason to visit a Prov'l Park these days. No Park Rangers, no Interpretive Programs, little if any maintenance, deteriorating campgrounds and trails, and filthy washrooms if they are even open! No natural nor cultural resource management programs in place and all relevent policies ignored.
    No capital development.
    But isn't it wonderful that we have 13% of the Province "kind of protected" in Parks, Protected Areas and Ecological Reserves. Mining,logging, hunting, trapping, big game outfitters, all kinds of private enterprise recreational activities - camping, trail rides, river rafting etc. all occuring in these wonderful examples of our natural heritage.
    Premier Clark seems to have missed the abuse, neglect, underfunding, understaffing,and exploitation of some natural resources in these precious areas. Wouldnt you think that BC Parks and Protected Areas should be recognised and dealt with in her Families First programs!
    I wont be taking my kids, nor grandkids to a BC Park in the near future even if can park for free! (That clever move removed $650,000 from Parks budget!!!)
    And maybe "Alen Abel" and "newphorik" might wish to check out a Park someday and see what is really happening in the REAL world!

  • G West

    44 weeks ago

    @Denis

    You're absolutely right - it's not the dedicated and long suffering employees of the ministry (who've been watching this attenuated train wreck of irresponsible management) who deserve the brickbats.

    I should have been more careful.

    I won't be apologizing to the ministry seconded members of the Public Affairs Bureau who undoubtedly dreamed up these asininities though.

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