THUNDER BAY - Sometimes even Santa needs a little help when his sleigh is full and in this case, it is from a Royal Canadian Air Force C-130J Hercules and a cargo fleet from North Star Air.
On Friday, a load of toys and winter clothing was dropped off by the RCAF at the Thunder Bay International Airport to be delivered to First Nations communities in Northwestern Ontario and while the celebrations will be a little quieter this year, there is no less joy being shared this holiday season.
“It’s just amazing,” said Normand Roy, a retired Staff Sgt. with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. “This year, the only challenge is normally we travel to the communities to deliver the toys. This year we are not travelling. But it’s still heartwarming having it done.”
For the past 10 years, the RCMP have been collecting and distributing toys to remote communities through its Toys for the North campaign.
North Star Air has been partnering on the project for the last six years and will be delivering the toys to four communities this year including Pikangikum First Nation, Muskrat Dam First Nation, Bearskin Lake First Nation, and North Spirit Lake First Nation.
“We make it our mission to make it sure these toys get delivered to northern communities,” said Karen Matson, director of marketing and community relations at North Star Air.
The toys are collected by the RCMP in Southern Ontario and were delivered to Thunder Bay by a C-130J Hercules courtesy of the RCAF.
Once on the tarmac, the toys were loaded into a Gardewine truck where they will be sorted in a warehouse before being transported by North Star Air to Red Lake and Pickle Lake and then flown into the four communities.
Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, things will be a little different this year, Matson said.
“We did everything so safely and we will continue to and that means going into the community,” she said. “Normally in the past when we bring the toys into the community it’s a big celebration, we are partying and having a community feast. We always bring Santa with us. This year will be different. We do plan a small contingent traveling with the group.”
There were concerns that the delivery would even happen this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, but the call went out, and the people delivered.
“When this all first started for this season, we didn’t know if this would happen,” Matson said. “The RCMP put the call out for the donations and we collected double the donations this year. So we do have a lot of toys and that is why this year we’ve chosen four communities to visit and disperse the toys and out a smile on the kids faces.”
More deliveries are also being made to communities in Labrador.
“It’s been great having the opportunity to bring joy to these communities,” Roy said. “Especially with this year and the COVID environment. There are a lot of kids who are locked down and can’t travel and are restricted of people attending the communities. But now there is an opportunity to bring some joy and toys and some great Christmas spirit.”
And even though there won’t be a big celebration like in previous years, there are still plenty of reasons to spread some joy, and of course, Santa will still be there.
“I think Santa and I will just sing some Christmas carols with the kids and spread the cheer,” Matson said.
