Erin Katerynych, executive director of the BDFRC hugs stuffies. More toys are soon to come thanks to the Tickets for Toys Campaign. (Julia Lovett-Squires/battlefordsNOW)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

NB Xmas

N. Battleford Snow Angels and toys brighten up city morale

Dec 10, 2024 | 5:00 PM

‘Tis the season: as Christmas approaches, North Battleford’s heart continues to grow three sizes with giving spirit.

With the community becoming more and more wintery, the Snow Angels are starting to make their appearance.

“We’d like to obviously thank everybody in the community that helps their neighbours out with removing snow,” said Mayor Kelli Hawtin during Monday night’s council meeting.

“I think on behalf of council to our city staff: thank you to our city staff for doing an incredible job with snow removal.”

The community program works by recognizing the good, neighbourly deeds done by residents to help others by removing snow from driveways, sidewalks or steps for those who are unable to or just as a way to give back to their community.

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The first batch of nominees for the new council are as follows: Gordon Mullett, Shawn DeSouza, Carson Sparrow, Paul Fuhr, Skyler Steier, Boris Hafic, Natasha Hafic, Marcus Tabaccojuice, Luca Hafic (Youth), Tim Kelly, Shawn Budnick, Nick Elder, Jim Irvine, Cheryl Irvine, Wendell Houk and Niel MacGillivray.

“With that, we will draw for a winner (of a restaurant gift certificate), all Snow Angels will receive a certificate, thanking them for being Snow Angels,” she added of Cheryl Irvine’s name being pulled and winning the gift card to Taste of Battleford.

“Thank you Cheryl and thank you to all of our Snow Angels and keep up the good work, ‘cause winters just started.”

In another effort to bring the spirit of goodwill out in city, the second annual Tickets for Toys initiative is also underway. According to the report submitted to council by Lindsay Holm, director of protective services, the project first made its appearance last year after the community safety officers spearheaded the pilot.

“Anybody that gets a ticket now within the first couple of weeks of December, if they bring a toy into city hall of equal value of their ticket…that toy will be donated to a charity,” said Holm.

Last year, they took over three vehicle loads of toys to Battlefords Interval House and over $1,900 in fines were forgiven.

“I think at this time of year, it’s nice to actually give and it’s probably the one time you’ll hear me say ‘feel free to illegally park and you’re going to get a ticket and hopefully we’ll get a toy out of it,’” he said to chuckles around the table.

This year, the toys will be going to the Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre and will run until Dec. 20.

“At this time of year, there’s a lot of families that are in need and if we can help out in anyway, I think that would be great.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

ON BlueSky: juleslovett@bsky.social