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A cross-Canada blanket drive rolled through Saskatchewan this week, making stops in Saskatoon and Regina just as the temperature dropped.
The visit was part of the Cozy Blanket Winter Tour, a national project by author and photographer Andrew Knapp, who is travelling with his two dogs, Yaya and Boo, collecting blankets and warm gear for people in need of shelter in cities across Canada.
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Knapp said the idea of the tour came from an attempt to turn anxiety into something meaningful.
“I felt the need to give back … instead of ruminating in my apartment, I just thought, get out there and do something about it,” he said.
He added that Saskatchewan’s cold weather only emphasized the urgency.
“The colder it gets, the more help people really need.”
The winter tour began on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia and where he made stops in Vancouver, New Westminster, Calgary and Edmonton before reaching Saskatchewan.
At each location, he partners with a local shelter, and Knapp lists their specific needs, from blankets to warm jackets to hygiene supplies, on his website, so donors know exactly what to bring.
In Saskatoon, on Dec. 9, Knapp originally planned to host a walk and blanket drop at the Off-Leash Recreation Area Sutherland. But the extreme cold forced the event indoors to Dutch Growers. All Saskatoon contributions support the Saskatoon Indian and Métis Friendship Centre, which requests blankets, socks, gloves, hand warmers and adult winter boots.
The next day in Regina, Knapp held a similar meet-and-greet at the Cathy Lauritsen Memorial Off-Leash Dog Park. This stop supports Carmichael Outreach, which serves people facing homelessness and housing instability. This charity requested warm blankets.
Families at both events also received an added connection: for every blanket donated, Knapp donates one of his Yaya and Boo books to a child. (Screenshot)
Families at both events also received an added connection: for every blanket donated, Knapp donates one of his Yaya and Boo books to a child.
“Some kids are obsessed with the books,” he said. “Meeting the actual dogs is really fun for the kids, and it’s fun for me to see that kind of magic unfold.”
He said the dogs often end up being the biggest draw of the tour, helping bring our families who want to support local shelters and meet the stars of their favourite books.
After leaving Regina, Knapp plans to continue travelling east, with stops scheduled in Winnipeg, Kenora, Thunder Bay, and Sault Ste. Marie, Sudbury and Toronto, and more cities expected to follow.
For those who missed the events but want to contribute, Knapp encourages people to donate directly to the Saskatoon Indian and Métis Centre or to Carmichael outreach, both of which accept winter essentials and year-round financial support.
Details about upcoming stops and shelters needed are available on his tour website.
