‘It fuels imagination:’ Bearbraham Lincoln sculpture unveiled in North York

At Eglinton and Don Mills, a 10-metre-tall female grizzly – dubbed ‘Bearbraham Lincoln’ – now watches over a changing neighbourhood – a bronze symbol of leadership, care, and quiet strength.

“It’s actually an exact replica of the Lincoln monument in size and scale,” said artist Dean Drever. “That always inspired me as a kid, just the awe of it. So, putting a bear in that giant chair, especially in front of a park where kids will play, I love that. It fuels imagination.”

The piece is called Seated Bear and Friends, was created through Toronto’s Percent for Public Art Program, which requires developers to fund art in public spaces. Commissioned by Aspen Ridge Homes, the cost of the installation is expected at roughly $3 million due to the ballooning cost of labour and materials. It’s built