Calgary 
A&W Canada is marking the 50th anniversary of its mascot, the Great Root Bear, with a national promotion and special events in Calgary and Toronto.
Credit: CNW Group/A&W Food Services of Canada Inc.
Starting October 13, customers can purchase “Rooty’s Birthday Bundle,” which includes a Teen Burger, Onion Rings, and an A&W Root Beer. The meal comes in limited-edition birthday-themed packaging and includes one of five collectible Rooty stickers. The rarest sticker, the golden Rooty, commemorates the mascot’s golden jubilee.
To further celebrate, A&W will host birthday events on October 18 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at two locations: 5621 Signal Hill Centre Southwest in Calgary and 659 Dupont Street in Toronto. Each event will feature a meet-and-greet with Rooty and free goodie bags for the first 100 guests.
Rooty made his first appearance in 1975 in A&W’s “Follow the Great Root Bear to A&W” advertisements and has remained a recognizable figure in the brand’s marketing for five decades.
“Generations of Canadians share fond memories of growing up with our beloved Great A&W Root Bear,” said Susan Senecal, CEO of A&W Canada. “Celebrating his 50th golden birthday is a major milestone, and we are so excited to share this occasion with Canadians coast to coast.”
The limited-time bundle will be available only in restaurants, while supplies last, and cannot be combined with other promotions or third-party delivery services. Stickers are exclusive to purchases made in-store.
