Police won more special Saturday morning to solve a Christmas case at West Edmonton Mall.
An organization of young people gathered through the Edmonton Police Foundation (EPF) and the Bent Arrow Traditional Healing Society hoped to meet Santa Claus at breakfast only to realize the Grinch had taken him.
Along with officers, the child investigators followed leads and searched the mall while searching for gifts along the way at retail stores such as Build A Bear, It’Sugar and Simons.
Police Chief Dale McFee said the occasion is helping to bring holiday cheer to families in need.
“[The day] with a heavy task: The Grinch had kidnapped Santa,” McFee said with a smile.
“We had an organization of young children,” he added, “they worked hard from store to store, tracks, excitement. Just seeing the smiles on their faces and seeing them meet Santa Claus at the end is comforting. “
After locating the Grinch, the police and their junior officers took a restorative technique asking him to seek to ruin Christmas.
“The whole plan was to catch the Grinch, put him on the villain list and get an apology,” McAfee recalls.
“The kids saw all this,” he added. It’s just a smart lesson with smiles. “
Linda Gough provided her 3 grandchildren, Darius, Demetrius and Ryleigh. She is incredibly grateful to the EPF and organizers, as well as the police officers who gave their time to participate.
“I think each and every kid has a wonderful Christmas,” Gough said. “They had a lot of fun. “
“Ryleigh, from the beginning, went for the Grinch,” he added.
Police Chief Dale McFee poses for a photo with Kevin Lowe with Linda Gough and her circle of family (CTV News Edmonton/Jessica Robb).
Demetrius enjoyed the travels of arcade and hockey legend Kevin Lowe.
“It’s super fun,” he said. I have to read the clues and look up what the clues mean. “
Kevin Lowe is helping Ryleigh confront her brother Demetrius (CTV News Edmonton/Jessica Robb).
After locating Santa, Demetrius said he was a better detective than McFee.
“I think I’m getting better,” Demetrius said, adding that he was pleased to have made a new friend.
“We have the Grinch,” he said proudly. We store Christmas!”
Santa thanked the junior task force for helping him (CTV News Edmonton/Jessica Robb).
During a season with runaway inflation, Gough said the occasion helped make the season special.
“I have to say that if it wasn’t for organizations like this, there would be a lot of kids who wouldn’t have Christmas,” he added.