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CopShop brings the excitement and magic of the holiday season to local children
Halifax Regional Police (HRP) and Halifax Shopping Centre celebrated the spirit of the season with 52 local children at this year’s CopShop. The 12th annual event, which was held earlier today, brought smiles, giggles and lifetime-long memories to the children and the 65 HRP employees who served as their personal shoppers.
Each child received a $200 gift card generously donated by Halifax Shopping Centre, a stocking filled with goodies and a new winter coat from Sport Chek. In the spirit of giving, Halifax Shopping Centre also gave each shopping duo a $10 gift card to ‘pay it forward.’ Each child is asked to choose and purchase a gift for another child the same age, which the mall will donate to the Salvation Army Toy Drive.
“CopShop is a special experience for the children and for our employees. The excitement, wonder and sheer joy on everyone’s faces is unmistakable. We are incredibly fortunate to have this opportunity to make a difference in these children’s lives. I am certain it will have a lasting positive impact,” says Chief Jean-Michel Blais. “This wouldn’t be possible without Halifax Shopping Centre’s generous support of helping to spread holiday spirit throughout our organization and our community.”
As in past years, the children selected for CopShop were recommended by various sources and were chosen because of need or recognition of specific academic, sports achievement or volunteer efforts.
“We are proud to be the pioneers of CopShop in Canada alongside Halifax Regional Police and excited to continue this special event into its 12th year of bringing joy during the holiday season to deserving children in our community,” says Sherri Kelsie, Retail Manager of Halifax Shopping Centre.
CopShop, which originated at Halifax Shopping Centre in 2005, has gone national for a ninth year with ten other 20 VIC Management centres in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Saskatchewan holding their own CopShop events in December. More than 400 children across Canada will benefit from this year’s event.
Thank you to everyone involved, especially the organizers at HRP and Halifax Shopping Centre who put their heart and soul into the event to make it enjoyable for the kids, both young and old.
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For more information contact:
Cst. Kristine Fraser
Acting Public Information Officer
Halifax Regional Police
(902) 490-5154 office
hrppublicrelations@halifax.ca
Sherri Kelsie
Retail Manager
Halifax Shopping Centre
(902) 454-8666 or (902) 483-7901