TORONTO – Corporal Urban Da Ponte walked past the Toys for the North donation box that had been placed at his RCMP Toronto North Detachment and noted that it was almost empty.
Disappointed with the small number of donations he took it upon himself to raise funds and then went out and bought a “room full” of toys to contribute.
“Toys for the North is the only drive that sends toys to thousands of kids that live in Canada’s northernmost regions and I just wanted to contribute,” Cpl. Da Ponte commented. “There is nothing more magical than a child receiving a toy at Christmas and I smile knowing that there will be a few kids who will feel that magic this year because they received a toy that I donated.”
Because of Cpl. Da Ponte’s leadership other employees at the TN detachment have begun to follow suit and contributions are on pace for a record year since the drive started in 2010.
This year’s toy delivery by RCMP detachment staff will take place in Northern communities located in Newfoundland/Labrador and Ontario in December.
Toys for the North from Thunder Bay, via support from North Star Air makes an annual trip north to Northern Ontario Communities.
