Apparently, we used to have a thing for bears. Just picture it, a full-grown black bear wandering down Dundas Street, near what is today Erin Mills Parkway. Seems fanciful, even humorous; a story that perhaps belongs to our very distant past. But such was the story not so long ago. And not just one bear, but four, and at different times with different stories.

Our earlier reference to a tame bear in the Erindale area comes from the 1820s and the son of the first minister of St. Peter’s Anglican Church. Reverend James Magrath’s son Thomas had found a female bear cub, and he brought her home. Apparently, Thomas raised the bear as a pet, calling her Mocaunse (pronounced Maa-koons), which was an Ojibwa word for “young bear”. Mocaunse reportedly followed Thomas around, and often kept up pace with his horse. Thomas stated: “She runs about the house like a dog, and is invited to the drawing-room, when any visitor arrives who wishes to make her acquaintance.”

One of the Magrath family’s neighbours even complained that the bear followed the family to St. Peter’s Church on Sundays — and played with the children in the Credit River after the service. The reference to Mocaunse comes from the Magrath family themselves, in letters that they wrote, but unfortunately, we do not know what became of Mocaunse.

Many years later, three other bears would become popular in the Erindale area. The first was Jimmie the Bear. My grandfather, Delmar Barker, operated a general store in Erindale, and in 1937 he became the owner of a black bear cub who had been found in Northern Ontario after its mother had died. Delmar kept Jimmie in a large cage beside the general store. Jimmie was not only friendly, but he became quite the draw in Erindale as people came from far and wide to see him. But of course, Jimmie did not stay small. By 1941, Jimmie was apparently over 6 feet tall when he stood up and weighed over 350 pounds. Jimmie particularly liked strangers who brought him treats, and he was quite affectionate. His favourite treat was peanuts, but was also very fond of fruit and candy – Jimmie reportedly had a sweet tooth. For several years Jimmie was quite content, although when he fancied, he would let himself out of his cage and go for a walk along the Credit River – Delmar purportedly could not keep Jimmie in the cage if he felt like going for a walk as Jimmie would simply force the door open. Delmar’s truck, with Jimmie sitting in the front passenger seat, became a familiar sight in the village as Delmar often had to go find Jimmie and bring him home. In 1942, determining that Jimmie could no longer stay in the village and needed space to roam, Delmar gave him to a cottager from Huntsville. We do not know the story of Jimmie after that. The old Erindale General Store, where Jimmie lived for a short time, is now B.F. O’Neill’s Vacuum Centre on Dundas Street.

Also in the late 1930s until 1951, Erindale was home to two other bears – both connected to Miles’ Park Farm – a small zoo just to the west of the village, near where modern Brookmede Park is today. The bears were called “Bruno” and “Master Bear”, and both were tame, and were favourites with children. Bruno was a brown bear and is said to have loved soda pop, but also received plenty of milk. Bruno also loved to drink out of the water fountain at Miles Park Farm.

Master Bear was a smaller black bear, who was also a bit of an escape artist – albeit a friendly one. He was said to enjoy wandering, often down the zoo’s laneway to Dundas Street and on towards Erindale Village, where he would be treated to ice cream at the general store – ice cream being his favourite treat. Master Bear would play with children at Miles’ Park Farm, roll around in the grass, and loved to eat as much ice cream as possible. He reportedly even broke into the refreshment stand one evening to gorge himself on ice cream. Bruno and Master Bear remained at Miles’ Park Farm until it closed in the early 1950s.

But that brings us to Miles’ Park Farm itself, which was a well-loved, if relatively short-lived, part of our local history.

Arthur W. Miles, a Toronto undertaker, established a private zoo in Mimico, beginning in 1912. Due to pressure from Mimico council, he purchased a 200-acre property on Dundas Street, just west of Erindale, in 1935. The next year, he closed the zoo in Mimico and Miles’ Park Farm in Erindale opened. By 1938, Miles’ Park Farm (sometimes referred to as Miles Farm Park) had become one of the most popular recreational and social destinations in historic Mississauga. The park animals delighted many visitors, and included llamas, donkeys (favourites were named Jenny and Dolly), bears (namely Bruno and Master Bear), peacocks, two camels, and monkeys. But by far the most popular tenant at the farm was Tootsie the elephant. Tootsie originally came from Burma and was very tame. Sadly, fire struck Miles’ Park Farm on Sunday, February 14, 1943, and 70 animals were lost, including Tootsie.

Miles’ Park Farm continued to operate until 1951-52 (exact date of closure is uncertain). Due to declining health, A.W. Miles retired, and the remaining animals were given to other zoos. Arthur W. Miles passed away on June 18, 1956, and an article in the Port Credit Weekly on June 21, 1956 fondly recalled Miles’ Park Farm. His estate sold the former zoo property to Erin Mills Development in 1958.

Dunwin Drive, as it runs north off of Dundas Street, follows part of the laneway that led to Miles’ Park Farm – and is likely the route that Master Bear walked not that long ago.