WPD Ambulance aims to bring Christmas gifts to more than 500 Battlefords children

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Last year, 475 children received toys and stocking stuffers, Marcoux said. He estimated the collection at about 2,000 toys.

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The campaign begins Nov. 16 and ends Dec. 16. Donations will go to the Battlefords District Food & Resource Centre for distribution through its Empty Stocking Fund Christmas hampers.

Gifts for teenagers and boys aged seven to 12 are particularly needed. Marcoux said the food bank identified a shortage for those groups.

WPD plans to place 14 collection bins around the community on launch day. Locations include:

• Walmart
• Canadian Tire
• Shoppers Drug Mart
• Dollarama
• The dollar store in Co-op Mall
• Home Hardware North Battleford
• Remedys RX Battleford
• Valley Ford
• North Battleford Hyundai
• FFUN Dodge North Battleford
• Oskers Surplus
• Bridges Chevrolet
• SGI
• Bee Plus Workplace Solutions.

People can leave toys in the bins or bring donations directly to the food bank or WPD’s base. The finalised list of collection locations will also be posted on WPD’s website and Facebook page.

Paramedics with WPD Ambulance unload donated toys at the Battlefords District Food & Resource Centre on Dec. 17, 2025, after wrapping up the annual Cram the Ambulance campaign in North Battleford. (Image Credit: Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

Marcoux began planning in early October. This year’s collection will also include two teddy bear tosses, a free movie screening and classroom challenges.

The first teddy bear toss will take place Nov. 22, when the Battlefords WPD Ambulance Sharks face the Regina Rebels at Battleford Arena. The game begins at 2 p.m.

Capitol Theatre will hold a free screening of Elf on Nov. 28 at 11 a.m., with paramedics there to collect toys. Anyone who brings a new toy will receive a two-for-one movie coupon for a future visit.

A second teddy bear toss is planned for Nov. 29, when the Battlefords North Stars play the Humboldt Broncos at the Access Communications Centre. That game begins at 4:30 p.m.

Students at École Monseigneur Blaise Morand and Holy Family School are joining the collection through a classroom challenge Marcoux devised. At each school, the class donating the most toys will receive a pizza party from WPD.

“I have young daughters in school, and they thought it’d be a fun idea,” he said.

Other schools interested in participating can contact Marcoux or WPD Ambulance to arrange a challenge.

Marcoux said he knows times are tough, but people began reaching out with donations even before the official launch.

Walmart donated several pallets of toys, and other contributions had also arrived. Together, the donations had already filled one ambulance.

For Marcoux, it is rewarding to give back alongside a community whose members “always step up and really make sure everyone’s supported.”

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com