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Cops bring cheer

Young siblings enjoy lights sirens and gifts from police
Mel Edgar

Three children were the recipients of some extra holiday cheer this season thanks to two local RCMP constables.

With the help of Powell River and District Christmas Cheer Committee, and their family’s permission, three siblings aged nine, seven and three were treated to a day out with gifts, as well as a ride in an RCMP vehicle where they were granted the fun task of testing the lights and sirens.

“We pulled up to the house, introduced ourselves and they were ready to go,” said constable Jason Sammoun. “We took them down to the detachment and then let them wail on lights and sirens.”

The outing was to help a family in need enjoy the holiday season.

“The RCMP is here to help the community,” said constable Derek Quilley, “but I would want to do this even if I wasn’t a cop.”

Aside from riding in an RCMP vehicle, part of the children’s day out involved a trip to a local department store where they were given a chance to pick out two gifts each.

“It was wild, they just bee-lined to the toy aisle and took over,” said Sammoun.

As the children and constables sorted potential gifts into yes and maybe shopping carts, Sammoun said onlookers offered praise and high-fives to the group.

“People had an idea that we were helping out a family,” said Sammoun. “They were coming up to us and saying that this was awesome.”

The constables’ outing with the children was a break from how things have traditionally been done at the Christmas cheer committee.

Although the committee has connected families with those wishing to help with food hampers and gifts for more than 60 years, helpers traditionally do not take the children out to buy the presents themselves.

“This was a special request from two special RCMP officers,” said committee secretary Lesley Ford. “This was a very nice thing they did.”

For Sammoun, who grew up in Charlottetown, PEI, celebrating Christmas with his extended family, getting directly involved in helping out a local family was a perfect way to celebrate the holidays.

“Family is big at Christmas,” he said. “For me, it is all about the kids.”

The holiday fun for the young trio is not over, as the constables hinted that Santa might have other presents to deliver to the children at Christmas.