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With a cloth bag clutched in both hands, nine-year-old Madison steered Regina’s police chief exactly where she wanted to go for the Regina Police Service’s annual CopShop.
Madi was one of 20 kids who were chosen to take part in Monday’s event. They got lunch, a $200 gift card and a personal police escort to take them around the Cornwall Centre.
All of the kids were treated to either a new winter coat or a set of new winter boots, and then the spending spree began.
Madi knew exactly where she wanted to go first — EB Games, where she started out with a couple LOL Dolls.
“I finally get to spend 200 bucks and now I don’t even have to worry about $20 or $30 or $40 or $50,” Madi said as they were going shop to shop.
Chief Evan Bray said the officers absolutely love getting to take part.
“It’s an opportunity for us to interact with these kids who, of course, are seeing Christmas in every store they go in,” Bray said.
Half of the 20 kids are chosen by The Regina Intersectional Partnership (TRiP) and the other 10 kids were picked by school resource officers.
“This is almost a little bit of a treat for them. This is a thank you to them for investing in the year, for good school attendance, for paying attention in school,” Bray explained.
“You should hear Madi read. She was reading to me on the bus over here. She is a very good reader. And so this is just one way for us to thank them for being good citizens in our city, and I think it builds a very healthy community.”
The kids usually buy treats for themselves, but often, Bray said, they pick up gifts for family as well — and Madi was no exception.
“I think it really speaks to the Christmas spirit, and it’s just really an awesome afternoon,” said Bray.
This is the fifth year of the program and the fifth year Bray has taken part. But this is the first year he has had a girl to take shopping.
“Seeing the world through a nine-year-old girl’s eyes has been — well, Ardene’s, Claire’s. I mean, do we need to say any more? This is where it all happens,” said Bray.
