Halton Police’s Kozy Kids Initiative provides 296 snowsuits to underserved youth

By: Laura Steiner, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, The Milton Reporter

Through the 4th Annual Kozy Kids Initiative, the Halton Regional Police Service (HRPS) has clothed nearly 300 underserved youth.

The HRPS Youth Engagement Team (YET) distributed 296 new snowsuits to underserved youth across Halton, identified in collaboration with local schools and community partners.

Kozy Kids began in 2021 and was launched by two HRPS constables who noticed that many newcomers to Canada, were regularly absent from school during the winter because their families needed help to afford winter apparel. Since then, with the continued support of Halton residents, the program has provided winter clothing for 1,158 needy children, surpassing the initial 2024 goal of 1,000 snowsuits.

This year’s new addition included a unique coat tag for each snowsuit zipper. These tags informed youth and families how to report hate and bias-motivated incidents to the police or Crime Stoppers. The tags featured information in the region’s top five languages: English, Spanish, Mandarin, Arabic, and Urdu.

Inspector Bruce Dickson, who leads the youth engagement and equity, diversity, and inclusion units, 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 receiving coats on behalf of clients, added: “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.”