Officers participate and organize a weekly bowling program called “Incredibowlers”, with children from 4020 Dundas Street West

11 Division Neighbourhood Community Officers were on hand at Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club assisting with the 12th Christmas Hamper Program. The Christmas Hamper Program serves Club members and the community during the holiday season. This Christmas 475 hampers made of various items: Fresh products, canned goods, clothes, toys and baby essentials were distributed. Recipients of the hampers received a frozen turkey, two frozen chickens or hot meals with sides. During one busy week just before Christmas, volunteers put together the hampers, before delivering them to the recipients. All of this could not exist without our community partners and supporters.  "Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club"

On December 17, 2022, 11 Division Neighbourhood Community Officers were on hand at our local Loblaws (3671 Dundas Street, West) asking community members for help cramming a cruiser with non-perishable foods this holiday season. Donations were given to "Feed it Forward" , 2770 Dundas Street West. Feed It Forward has been operating Canada’s first and only Pay-What-You-Can Grocery Store, bakery and coffee shop since June 2018 in the Junction neighborhood of Toronto. All of the food rescued by Feed It Forward is diverted to the grocery store where it is sorted and organized by volunteers, and then put out on the shelves for customers. Customers pay what they can afford based on their budget or can take what they need free of charge. Many of the grocery store customers choose to give back by donating their own food or volunteering at the store or with Feed It Forward’s other programs. www.feeditforward.ca

On October 26, 2022, 11 Division Neighbourhood Community Officers hosted a Coffee With Cops event at Coffee Culture Cafe & Eatery. Removing the barriers, eliminating the agenda, and meeting on mutual turf is why the Coffee with a Cop concept works. Community engagement and dialogue must be mutual. Community members talking with officers, learning what’s actually behind the badge, and building trust along the way; one cup at a time.

Oakville, Ontario — With the holiday season upon us, MADD Canada is asking Canadians to take a moment to think about all those who have lost loved ones or suffered devastating injuries as a result of impaired driving, and to make the commitment to always drive sober.  “Far too many people are missing loved ones and far too many are dealing with injuries, all because of senseless and preventable impaired driving crashes,” said MADD Canada National President Jaymie-Lyne Hancock “For my family, Christmas will never be the same because my brother D.J. won’t be with us.” D.J. Hancock’s car was struck head on by an impaired driver in 2014. Just 18 years old, D.J. died at the crash scene. “Please don’t take the risk with your life or anyone else’s life,” Ms. Hancock said. ‘If you are consuming alcohol, cannabis or other drugs, put the keys away and arrange a sober ride home. Call an Uber or a cab, take public transit or arrange a designated driver.” Everyone can do their part to prevent tragedies on our roads this holiday season by: Never driving impaired; Never riding with a driver who is impaired; Calling 911 to report suspected impaired drivers. Canadians wanting to plan their sober and reliable drive home during the holidays, and all year round, can do it with just the push of a button – check out Uber, the Official Designated Ride of MADD Canada. Visit https://www.uber.com/ca/en/ for more information. MADD Canada is currently in the midst of its Project Red Ribbon campaign to promote safe and sober driving during the holidays. Red ribbons and car decals are available through the MADD Canada website at madd.ca and through local Chapters and Community Leaders. Anyone who wishes to support Project Red Ribbon with a donation can do so online through the website, by calling 1-800-665-6233 or by texting “RIBBON” to 45678 (a one-time $10 donation is added to the donor’s cell phone bill and payable to his or her service provider). For more information, contact: Jaymie-Lyne Hancock, MADD Canada National President, 705-623-3148 or jhancock@madd.ca. Deb Kelly, MADD Canada Communications Manager, 1-800-665-6233, ext. 240 or dkelly@madd.ca.

By taking simple precautions, you can dramatically reduce the risk of vehicle theft or loss of property from vehicle.

Human Trafficking Can Be Hard to See. In this modern-day form of slavery, traffickers can maintain control over a victim in many different ways. It might be physical or psychological, through manipulation, threats, and the abuse of trust and power. Victims may be trafficked by someone they know: a former or current partner, family member, friend, co-worker, or boss. Better understanding the facts about human trafficking, who is at risk, how traffickers recruit and exploit victims, and what signs to look for is a major step in helping to fight this widespread and often invisible crime.