A Landmark for
Crosstown —
and for Toronto.
Seated Bear and Friends, by celebrated Canadian artist Dean Drever (b. 1970), now stands proudly in Big Bear Park, marking a new cultural landmark for both Crosstown and Toronto.
Towering and contemplative, the Seated Bear watches over the community and the city’s newest green space, Big Bear Park, opening soon. Spanning 3,120 square metres, the park will feature junior and senior play structures with slides and swings, picnic and seating areas, creative shade structures, an open lawn, local plantings, and an amphitheatre, all connected by winding pedestrian pathways.
“Seated Bear and Friends invites an atmosphere of benevolence and virtue… It’s about being in another’s skin and viewing the world from a renewed perspective.”
Drever’s work invites reflection
on connection and compassion.
Within the park and plaza, seven bears—each expressing human qualities—embody themes of inclusivity, strength, and unity. Together, they mirror our shared potential to live harmoniously, honouring both nature and each other.
