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The Turkey beaver sculpture in Toronto on June 5. More than 13,000 people reportedly played the Great Beaver Quest scavenger hunt between May 25 and Aug. 16.Giordano Ciampini/The Canadian Press
Hand-painted beaver statues representing different countries in the FIFA World Cup that were spread across the eastern downtown neighbourhood of Old Town Toronto are now up for auction.
The Old Town Toronto Business Improvement Area, which is behind the project, says the auction began on Friday and online bidding on 50 beaver installations is set to close Aug. 24.
The organization says proceeds will be split equally between two charitable organizations: Toronto’s First Post Office and KidSport Ontario.
There are 51 distinct beaver sculptures across old downtown. Forty-eight of them are a nod to the soccer teams playing at the FIFA World Cup, which kicks off this week. Two others are to welcome the world, while one celebrates the vibrant Old Town Toronto.
The Canadian Press
Among the 52 distinct sculptures that were on display around the historic neighbourhood, 48 of them were a nod to the nations represented in the World Cup. Two others served to welcome the world, while one celebrated the neighbourhood itself.
A Canadian-themed beaver featuring a maple leaf pattern in fall colours, which was added later as the 52nd beaver, has so far garnered the highest bid of $2,100 as of early afternoon Monday.
Beavers are welcoming World Cup tourists to downtown Toronto
Two of the sculptures, representing Canada and Old Town Toronto, are not currently listed for sale in the auction.
The BIA says more than 13,000 people played the Great Beaver Quest, a scavenger hunt which ran between May 25 and Aug. 16.