After a three-year hiatus, the CopShop program returns to the Cornwall Centre.
Each year roughly twenty local kids between the ages of eight and twelve are selected to participate in the program. The children are individually paired up with officers from the Regina Police Service and then they spend the day together Christmas shopping in the Cornwall Centre with donated gift cards from the mall.
Ten of the kids that participated this year are members of The Regina Intersectoral Partnership (TRiP) program. This program is an early intervention initiative that helps young kids who are vulnerable or struggling in school and community activities.
“These kids (who are participating) are kids who are doing really well. They’re doing well in school, and showing great progress in what’s going on. As a result, they get to do something that they otherwise wouldn’t get to do,” says Lance Dodar, TRiP Coordinator.
The kids chosen to participate in the CopShop program are based on academic performance, sports achievements, and volunteer efforts.
Deputy Chief of Operations with the RPS, Lorilee Davies feels the event is just as beneficial for the officers as it is for the children.
“It’s such a great event because it’s building relationships between these young kids and Police Officers and really seeing each other as people in the community. They start out as strangers at the beginning of the day but by the end of the day, it’s amazing, the bond that’s created,” says Davies.
Shopping wouldn’t be possible without money and the Cornwall Centre had it covered.
The Centre donated a $200 Cornwall gift card to each kid which they were allowed to spend at any store in the mall.
“On top of that, the kids all will be able to go to The Bay and choose either a brand new winter jacket or a pair of boots that is kindly paid for by the east location of the Great Canadian Oil Change,” says Katie Dockham, Marketing Manager at the Cornwall Centre.
The officers helped the kids buy new toys as well as presents for their families and friends. Once that was all said and done, the officers help the kids wrap all of their gifts before heading home.
