If you’ve made it this far then you’re at least interested in competing for the title of Mr Ottawa Bear! There are a few things that you should know about the process.

Why Compete?

There are several reasons why you should consider putting your name in the hat to run for Mr Ottawa Bear.

The Money – The winner of the competition receives $250. Can’t argue with cold hard cash.

The Community – As Mr Ottawa Bear, you will become the face of the bear community in Ottawa and will have an opportunity to network with many other LGBTQ+ groups in the capital; raising awareness of the bear community and promoting a positive body image among big and furry men.

The Experience – Past MOB recipients have told us how much the experience has changed them for the better. It’s made them feel more involved and more accepted than ever before and it’s been a huge confidence booster for many.

The Influence – As Mr Ottawa Bear you’ll have the opportunity to help determine the direction for the Ottawa Bears club in the coming year by participating in club meetings and club activities and you will also be able to select which charity the next Mr Ottawa Bear competition will champion.

Requirements

First of all, in order to compete for Mr Ottawa Bear you need to be at least 18 years old and self-identify as a member of the bear community. You must also reside in the Ottawa/Gatineau region and be willing to participate periodically (when you can) in bear activities and optionally attend Ottawa Bears committee meetings to help direct the club’s activities.

As a representative of the Ottawa Bear community, we hope you will give freely of your time to help grow the organization.

Preparation

You will need to complete the Contestant Application Form and forward it to us by email or deliver it to anyone on the bear committee at a bear event (like Sunday bear coffee).

We ask that you send us a high-resolution photo of yourself (only you in the photo) along with a short biography (about 30 seconds when read aloud). We will be posting this photo and bio on our web site and social media so you will want it to be as high quality as possible and it should show you in a positive and flattering way. The use of a professional photographer is encouraged but if you do not have access to one, you can ask someone at one of the bear events to assist you. The bio will be used to introduce you during the competition. Include your statistics (age, height, weight) and a few personal details about yourself. Things like where you are from, places you’ve lived, things you’ve accomplished in the bear or LGBTQ+ community, etc.

You can see what 2018 competitors wrote in their bios to help you compose your own.

The MOB Weekend

Friday afternoon (October 9) there will be a “Meet and Greet” event at the host hotel (Courtyard Ottawa Downtown) which you are expected to attend. It begins at 3:00 pm. This will be your opportunity to meet the judges and the other contestants for the first time, and you will be introduced to Bear Frolic attendees.

On Saturday (TBA), you will be meeting with the judges one-on-one for a short interview to give them a chance to get to know you. You will also be meeting with a coordinator to prepare a short skit/dance to perform during the competition. (Don’t panic! This is just for entertainment and we are not going to judge your dancing ability….at least not officially.)

The Competition

Sunday evening (October 11) you should present yourself at the main ballroom of the Courtyard Downtown Ottawa at 8:00 pm for the competition. This is when you’ll be given details about the competition events. Please be prompt.

You will need to bring two outfits:

• Bear Wear: In this portion of the competition, you’ll showcase your best bear look. Wear something manly and/or rugged but sexy at the same time. Flannel, vests, work boots… That sort of thing. It’s appropriate to show a bit of fur at this point.
• Minimal Wear: This is where we get to see your bear body at its most glorious. Full nudity is not allowed but feel free to show as much of the rest of you as you are comfortable with.

At one or several points in the competition, you will be asked to answer some questions from the judges and the emcee. These questions will not only allow the audience to get to know you, but allow the judges to determine how much you know about the bear community and how dedicated you are to the cause.

Feel free to be witty or clever with your answers but be sure to give the judges the right impression about you.

Remember, MOB is about two things… Entertaining our audience and promoting a positive body image of what is Bear.

Use of theatrics, pre-rehearsed skits or dance routines, props and even assistants is not only allowed but it is encouraged. Give yourself plenty of time to plan, practice and rehearse your performances and enlist the help of your friends. Their advice can be invaluable whether or not they’re there on the stage with you. It’s all about entertainment value.

Reluctance and nervousness are completely understandable and can be minimized by preparedness and practice.

You can do this! Past competitors and winners have all said that the experience of MOB can be life-changing in a very positive way. Don’t deprive yourself of this amazing opportunity for self-improvement and acceptance.

And always remember that Ottawa Bears committee members are here to help you however they can in preparing for this so be sure to avail yourself of this precious resource. And don’t wait until the last minute to begin preparing. Start now.

If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to contact us right away so that we can help you.

– The Ottawa Bear Committee