ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²ÊÌØÂë Canada – Christmas Means Giving

16 Feb 2020


Region 2 Greater Toronto Area and Northern Ontario

The Children’s Breakfast Club Christmas Gala

For the eighth straight year, members of ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²ÊÌØÂë Canada Region 2 (Toronto, Ontario) have volunteered to assist at the Annual Children’s Breakfast Clubs’ Christmas Gala. On 3 December 2019, more than one thousand children from local schools attended the Liberty Grand Event Centre for this holiday festival.

All the children received toys donated by the Spin Master Toy Co., and Liberty Grand provided a lunch for all the kids, numerous volunteers, and dignitaries in attendance.

The children were treated to a host of fun activities, music, and of course photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus, (Region 2 member Jim Dallimore and his wife Lorna). Rick Gosling, the founder of the Breakfast Clubs and organizer of this event, is an honorary member of Region 2.

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Toronto Mayor John Tory was present as the Guest of Honour along with all the corporate sponsors that generously support the Breakfast Clubs. Toronto Police, Fire and Paramedics were represented by their respective Honour Guards.

Our participation assisting the organizers and children is a rewarding experience that we hope to continue for many more years. For more information about the TCBC visit

 

Region 3 Calgary, Alberta

On 19 December 2019, members of ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²ÊÌØÂë Canada Region 3, with the plentiful support of the Developmental Disabilities Resource Centre of Calgary (DDRC), once again held the annual ‘Policeman’s Ball’ at the Christine Meikle School in Calgary, Alberta.caxmas2

Every year the Policeman’s ball is a holiday event for the students of the Christine Meikle School to kick off the holiday celebrations. Region 3 with the generous donation of the DDRC and with the help of the school’s teachers purchase presents for the students that fit their individual needs.

The Policeman’s Ball features a visit from Calgary Police’s ‘Simon the Safety Bear’, entertaining clowns and members of Region 3. Of course, Santa always makes a special appearance to hand out the gifts to the students. The Policeman's Ball is an event the students and staff of Christine Meikle look forward to every year.

The Christine Meikle School is a unique setting for junior high and high school age students with moderate to severe cognitive disabilities and/or complex learning, medical, emotional, sensory or behavioural needs. The School’s programming helps students develop communication, independence and vocational skills to the best of their ability.

Region 3 has hosted this event for over 25 years, and we are very proud to have partnered with the DDRC to make the event possible and put a smile on some well deserving kids’ faces.

Region 16 – Atlantic Provinces

For many years now, the ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²ÊÌØÂë in Atlantic Canada has undertaken a project where the Director in each of our four Atlantic Provinces (NB, NS, PEI and NL) selects a charity or organization in one of our communities and makes a donation of a minimum of $200.  One of the goals of our friendship organization is to enhance the reputation of law enforcement professionals in our communities. We believe that this program helps achieve that goal, and it is a great way to have fun, do the right thing, and attract new members in the process.

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This year, our group in Newfoundland and Labrador selected a senior’s home and in particular, two senior residents Margaret and Chesley.  17 ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²ÊÌØÂë members met at a luncheon prior to the presentation day to gather some donated gifts from the list of needs provided. They collected $235 in cash to add to the $200 contribution as well as the gifts and two Christmas stockings completely filled with small gifts.  Director Beverly Bryant along with Sharon Warren attended the senior’s home and personally presented the gifts to a very happy Margaret (See Photo 1).

In New Brunswick members selected the Beausejour Family Crisis Centre in Shediac as their charity. In partnership with the local RCMP Detachment, ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²ÊÌØÂë members sponsored two single women who had been recently rescued from abusive relationships. The ladies provided modest wish lists and our members sought donations from ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²ÊÌØÂë members and community friends for the gifts or cash to cover the costs.  All of the gifts were collected, wrapped and delivered personally by local ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²ÊÌØÂë and RCMP members. In addition to the gifts, organizers contributed or collected over $1100.00 in gift cards to be split between the two recipients (see photo 2).

Chris Barratt, President ÍõÖÐÍõÁùºÏ²ÊÌØÂë Canada