December 9th, 2015 The Pen Centre, St. Catharines

December 9th, 2015
The Pen Centre, St. Catharines
On Wednesday, December 9th, 2015, seven 20VIC shopping centres located across Canada will
participate in COPSHOP, a nationwide community initiative that provides underprivileged children a
unique opportunity to take part in a Christmas shopping spree, while at the same time meeting and
spending time with local police officers.
The idea, which originated at Halifax Shopping Centre in 2005, is going national for the eighth year with
the other 20 VIC Management shopping centres in Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia holding
their own COPSHOP events in December. Approximately 350 children across Canada will benefit from
this year’s event.
In St. Catharines, The Pen Centre will supply each COPSHOP child a $200 gift card, and the large group of
Niagara police officers who have volunteered for the event will act as personal shoppers, assisting the
children as they shop for Christmas gifts. This collaborative event will provide an opportunity for the Pen
to give back to the community, and importantly, will allow police officers to interact with youth in a
meaningful way.
With the assistance from Community Care, the District School Board of Niagara, the Niagara Catholic
District School Board, Boston Pizza, Coventry Connections Niagara, the Niagara Regional Police Service,
CN Police and the Niagara Parks Police, there will be in excess of 60 Police and Civilian volunteers who
will participate in the Pen Centre’s COPSHOP 2015 event. These volunteers will assist the 40 selected
students from the 7 designated DSBN and NCDSB Elementary Schools.