NEWS RELEASE
HALTON REGIONAL POLICE SERVICE
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It’s all mittens on deck as the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) launches its fourth annual Kozy Kids initiative, dedicated to providing underserved youth in our region with warm winter clothing.
Starting today and until Thursday, Oct. 31, the HRPS kindly invites residents and business owners to purchase and donate new snow suits (youth sizes 6-16) by dropping them into collection boxes stationed at any one of our locations listed below:
- 2485 North Service Road West, Oakville, Ont. (8 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
- 3800 Constable Henshaw Boulevard, Burlington, Ont. (8 a.m. – 10 p.m.)
- 95 Oak Walk Drive, Oakville Ont. (8 a.m. – 10 p.m.)
- 490 Childs Drive, Milton, Ont. (8 a.m. – 10 p.m.)
- 217 Guelph Street, Georgetown, Ont. (8 a.m. – 4 p.m.)
Kozy Kids was kickstarted in 2021 after two HRPS Constables learned that a number of children - many of whom were newcomers to Canada - were regularly absent from school during the winter months, as their families couldn’t afford to purchase winter apparel. That year, in the Town of Milton alone, 105 students were identified and received winter apparel. In 2022 and 2023, with the public’s support, we clothed 475 and 282 youth, respectively. This year, we’re aiming to break the 1,000 snow suit mark!
NEW THIS YEAR, each snow suit will have a coat tag fastened to the zipper, advising youth and their families on how to report hate and bias-motivated incidents to the police. Each tag contains information in the region’s top five languages - English, Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, and Urdu.
Inspector Bruce Dickson who oversees both the Youth Engagement Team and the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Unit, said: “It’s heartbreaking to know that some youth are missing school and are unable to enjoy the outdoors during the winter months because they don’t have a warm snow suit. What’s even more upsetting is imagining the same people who need our support being the targets of incidents that are motivated by hate or bias. Those beliefs and behaviours have no place in our community, and we want residents to know that we’ve got their backs covered – not just when it comes to reporting such incidents, but in keeping youth warm over the winter.”
To learn more about hate and bias motivated crime and how to report it, click here.
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