Archives
Community Safety and Well-being.
Today, we welcomed a generous contribution from The Domsy Foundation to our annual Kozy Kids program, which provides new snowsuits to underserved children across Halton.
One of the four pillars of Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) is social development. This includes creating conditions that promote inclusion and help reduce the likelihood of individuals experiencing harm or crisis.
Through programs like Kozy Kids, we aim to ensure that all children, regardless of their circumstances, have access to essential items that support their health, confidence, and well-being. This year’s success was made possible in part by the continued support of community partners such as The Domsy Foundation.
Speaking about the initiative, John Domsy shared:
“At the Domsy Foundation, we’re all about helping local organizations that support Halton’s underserved children. Ensuring youth have equal opportunities to fulfill their potential starts with securing them life’s necessities. We celebrate the tremendous work being done by the Halton Regional Police Service and are proud to partner with them on the Kozy Kids program to make a positive difference in the lives of even more children in the future.”
During the cheque presentation, Deputy Chief Kevin Maher presented Mr. Domsy with an HRPS challenge coin. This coin is a symbol of gratitude and recognition that reflects the shared commitment between our Service and members of the community.
We are grateful to The Domsy Foundation for supporting this meaningful program and helping more children across Halton stay warm, safe, and confident this winter.
John Domsy presenting charitable donation for Kozy Kids.
Thanks to the generosity of residents and business owners, the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has clothed nearly 300 underserved youth through our 4th Annual Kozy Kids Initiative.
The HRPS Youth Engagement Team (YET) has proudly distributed a total of 296 new snowsuits to underserved youth across Halton who were identified with the support of local schools and community partners.
Kozy Kids was kickstarted in 2021 by two HRPS Constables who 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. Since then, and with the support of residents, we have clothed a combined 1,158 youth in need, exceeding our 1,000 goal that we set for 2024.
New this year, each snowsuit featured a coat tag that was fastened to the zipper, advising youth and their families on how to report hate and bias-motivated incidents to our Service or via Crime Stoppers. Each tag included information in the region’s top five languages – English, Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, and Urdu.
Inspector Bruce Dickson, who oversees the Service’s Youth Engagement Team and the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Unit, said: “We are blown away by the generosity of our residents who have helped break our 1,000 snowsuit goal. What started as a grassroots initiative four years ago has quickly snowballed into a labour of love, and has demonstrated how well our people – HRPS members and the public – mobilize when we know our neighbours, especially kids, need us. We’re thrilled that they’ll have their new snowsuits ready and waiting for them to wear ahead of the season’s first snowfall. We genuinely thank everyone who helped spread the word and of course those who donated.”
Andrea Cormier, Manager of Community and Outreach Services for Halton Women’s Place – one of the community partners that received numerous coats on behalf of their clients – said: “Leaving an abusive situation often brings sudden financial hardship, and even basic necessities—like a coat or snowsuit—can become overwhelming expenses. With the support of Kozy Kids, we are able to provide much-needed comfort and relief to survivors, helping them stay resilient as they take brave steps toward a life free from violence.
“Thank you so much to the community, Halton Regional Police Service, and everyone who donated to Kozy Kids in support of families in need. Your overwhelming generosity truly makes a difference for the women and children of Halton Women’s Place.”
