Joint military-RCMP operation helping Santa get toys to remote Labrador

A military transport plane with some very important cargo touched down at the Goose Bay airport today. It was carrying about a thousand gifts destined for Labrador's north coast. 

"This is amazing. This is one of the best events of the year," Santa said Friday afternoon, after directing the Hercules aircraft to park just outside the RCMP hangar.

The gifts are part of the Toys for the North project, a joint military-RCMP exercise that transports toys donated from the Toronto area and the Canadian Toy Association to northern communities.

"Santa's here, the RCMP is here in red serge [and] the Canadian Armed Forces. How often do you get to see all of those organizations?" said Lt.-Col. Stephane Racle, commander of 5 Wing Goose Bay. 

"This is such a great cause, right? Helping out the communities of the north coast and children that don't have the same opportunities that many of us have and getting them some toys and some cheer for Christmas."

The presents are being wrapped over the weekend and prepared for delivery to all of the north coast communities and perhaps some south coast communities as well.

"I think it's great to be able to help with the communities, to be able to help with the kids and that," said Const. Matthew Moore of Happy Valley-Goose Bay RCMP.

"It puts us out there in a good light to be able to help people out, right? It's part of our job. We do that every day, right?"

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