The Assiniboine Park Zoo unveiled its newest addition on Thursday — a 15-month-old polar bear named Hudson.

Just before noon the young bear was introduced to hundreds of Winnipeggers for the first time.

Mayor Sam Katz and Premier Greg Selinger were on hand for his unveiling, and Katz presented a “gift” for Hudson, of a large Winnipeg Jets jersey with his name on it.

A crowd waits to see Hudson the polar bear for the first time at the Assiniboine Park Zoo on Thursday. (Catherine Dulude/CBC)

Hudson arrived in Winnipeg about two weeks ago from the Toronto Zoo.

He has spent the last two weeks in the zoo’s International Polar Bear Conservation Centre.

Eventually, Hudson will be part of the zoo’s Journey to Churchill exhibit, a $26-million project that is expected to open in 2014.

The exhibit will also feature caribou, arctic fox, snowy owls and musk oxen.

Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz presents a Winnipeg Jets jersey to the Assiniboine Park Zoo for Hudson, alongside Premier Greg Selinger. (Catherine Dulude/CBC)

It will also have a variety of interactive elements, including an aurora borealis 360-degree theatre, motorized polar bear tundra tours and a rooftop Tundra Garden.

A new playground and restaurant connected to the exhibit has already opened at the zoo.

Visitors will be able to view Hudson in an enclosure that is 20 times larger than the one that held Winnipeg’s last polar bear, Debby. Debby died in 2008 at age 42.