In 1914, during World War I, troops from Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada) were moving to eastern Canada. When the train stopped at White River, Ontario, there was a trapper standing on the platform with a bear cub.

One of the soldiers who got off the train to take a break was Captain Harry Colebourn, a Canadian Army veterinarian. He bought the cub for $20 and named her "Winnipeg", or "Winnie" for short. Winnie became the mascot of the Second Canadian Infantry Brigade and went to Britain with the unit. Unfortunately, when the Brigade was posted to the battlefields of France, Winnie could not go. She was placed instead with the London Zoo, in Regent's Park.

Over the years the bear became very popular with the children and was well known for her playful nature. One little boy, in particular, was attracted to Winnie. The little boy's father (knowing of his son's attraction to Winnie) would often tell him bedtime stories about the bear and a make-believe world. The little boy (Christopher Robin Milne) was a featured character in most of those stories. The little boy's father (A.A. Milne) went on to write a series of books about "Winnie-the-Pooh" , Christopher Robin , and their friends at "100-Acre Wood".