Saskatoon’s famed carolling firefighters helped launch the 34th Secret Santa campaign on Tuesday.
As part of the holiday drive Saskatoon Co-op is providing 800 food hampers for deserving families.
Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark started the festivities by lighting the tree at city hall and leaving a toy and an atlas for a young child.
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“I think it’s great for kids to learn about where they fit. Where is our place in their world? And where do people that they might be in their neighbourhood or their schools come from and what are the backgrounds of those countries,” Clark said.
“I think it’s representative of becoming an increasingly global city to have an atlas in there.”
People can drop off unwrapped gifts at locations around the city and the Secret Santa campaign also accepts cash donations.
The food hampers and toys will be distributed on Dec. 20.
Secret Santa was started by the late radio personality Denny Carr, who wanted to ensure all children received a toy for Christmas.