The Ottawa Bears is a group of Bears and Bear admirers located in the Ottawa, Ontario and Gatineau, Québec region of Canada.
The group organizes get togethers and social events for the bear community to promote a more positive body image among large and/or furry gay men and to promote bear culture within the gay and straight communities of the greater Ottawa region.
We welcome people of all types –big or small, furry or smooth, bear or admirer– who like the company of bears.
The current club executive members are:
Check out the club’s bylaws for details on how the club functions.
Our events are often photographed by various members for posterity and we like to share these pictures to show how much fun we are having and to share the memories that we made together.
Any member that wants to share their photos is welcome to do so either by providing us a link to their albums on photo sharing sites or sending their pictures to us directly.
We understand that some of our members are not comfortable with having their picture taken and/or published in this fashion. If you’d rather not have your picture taken, please mention it to the photographer or bring it up to a member of the executive team.
If you’ve found a photo of yourself on our site that you do not want made public in this fashion, please let us know and we will remove it as soon as we can.
What is a bear?
To the uninitiated, bears are a sub-culture within the gay community and are generally characterized as large and/or furry gay men.
But more than that, the bear community is a celebration of masculinity without the social pressures of conformity; a feeling of being happy and comfortable in one’s own skin regardless of size or shape and we get together to appreciate the aesthetics of big, burly and furry men while encouraging each other to be confident and happy with our own bodies.
What if I am not a bear?
The Ottawa Bears club is for bears and their admirers. If you enjoy the company of big furry men then you are always welcome to join us at our events. We only ask that you leave your judgement and criticism at the door. We’re all here to have a good time.
The club is open to all members, regardless of age, size, race, religion, gender or sexual orientation.
Is this a hookup/sex group?
No. The group is designed to be a social group where you can come and meet people and socialize in a safe environment. Although we don’t discourage romantic encounters outside Ottawa Bears activities, let’s keep our public events comfortable for everyone.
How much does it cost to join?
The yearly membership fee is $20 which helps to defray the fixed costs of running the group such as our website and post office box. Paid members also receive discounted admission to many events as well as free access to some member exclusive events.
What kinds of events do you host?
We host weekly events such as bear coffee and bear gaymer’s night, monthly events such as dinners and brunches, annual events such as water park day, Teddy Bear Picnic and the Mr Ottawa Bear competition as well as many random events in between.
Consult our events section for complete details of upcoming activities.
I’m not sure I want to become a paid member just yet. Can I still participate?
Yes, everyone is welcome to our public events, however we certainly encourage you to financially support your community so we can continue to grow and bring you fun events.
You will not have access to discounted rates and you will not be allowed to attend any members-only events until your yearly dues are paid up.
Get in touch with us if you need more details about the club and our events.
Use the form below to subscribe to our email distribution list and we’ll begin sending you periodic newsletters and emails about upcoming Ottawa Bears events.
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