RCMP O Division's Corporal Angelique Dignard, who has been the Toys for the North coordinator for the past two years, was honoured to speak at a recent Canadian Toy Association (CTA) Hall of Fame reception and dinner.
The RCMP and RCMP Veterans' Association, in partnership with Thomson Terminals, and with the assistance of the Royal Canadian Air Force, started the toy drive in 2010.
The following year (in 2011) the CTA joined the annual toy drive and it's proven to be a successful collaboration for everyone.
The Canadian Toy Association is pivotal in gathering the thousands of toys that are delivered each year, making them crucial to the success of the campaign.
Cpl. Dignard comments, "Simply stated…we could not do it without the Canadian Toy Association and their corporate donations." She went on to say, "I know I can speak for the RCMP, Thomson Terminals and the Air Forces when I say, we are extremely grateful for CTA's enthusiastic partnership, year-after-year."
As a result of Cpl. Dignard (and others) talking to the toy companies about the annual campaign, donations surged, reaching $559,906.87 so far. This represents a 43% increase in toy donations from last year and a new annual toy donation record! THANK YOU.
Thanks also goes to Murray Farrow, who volunteered their time to attend the event dressed as the RCMP Safety Bear.
Thousands of children in approximately 35 communities across Northern parts of Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba, Nunavut, the North West Territories and Ontario have enjoyed holidays that are a little brighter thanks to this campaign. This year, we will also include delivery of toys to two communities in the Yukon.
Thanks to the toy donations, once again, Canada's North will light up with kids' Christmas smiles after opening gifts – delivered because of the huge volunteer efforts invested in the Toys for the North campaign.