2018 Christmas Wrap Up

Two young girls in Santa hats with Christmas Kettle
by British Columbia
Categories: Blog, Community, Events
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The Christmas season has come and gone but now we can fondly look back at another great season where the generous support of numerous donors, volunteers, and hard working staff around British Columbia helped make an incredible impact on the lives of so many.

Christmas Kettles

For many, the most recognizable part of the holiday season is seeing the sea of Red Christmas Kettles on the streets and inside shopping areas around the province. This year, the kettle campaign raised $4 million in B.C. helping The Salvation Army reach its goal of $21.3 million across Canada. These funds will help feed, clothe, shelter people in need, and empower those escaping violence.


The Kettle season kicked off in November and garnered some great media attention in many different cities. Here are some coverage highlights:

Alberni Valley: Alberni Valley’s kettle campaign kicks off
Bulkley Valley: Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle Campaign started
Langley: Kettle Campaign kicks off in Langley
Nanaimo: Kettle Campaigns are Underway Now on the Coast and in Nanaimo
Prince Rupert: Christmas kettle season kicks off in Prince Rupert
Williams Lake: Williams Lake Salvation Army Launches 2018 Christmas Kettle Campaign


Creative Collecting

Hockey fans supported The Salvation Army at a number of Teddy Bear Toss theme games:

Abbotsford: Abbotsford Pilots Teddy Bear Toss vs Aldergrove – Big Thank You
Chilliwack: Chilliwack Chiefs game against Powell River is going to get ugly
Cranbrook: Teddy Bear, Toque and Mitten Toss Night Dec. 14
Fernie: Ghostriders defuse Dynamiters at home
Penticton: Penticton Vees come up short against Wenatchee Wild on Dec. 7
Prince George: WATCH: Over 3,600 PG Courgar Fans Launch Winter Items for Salvation Army
Prince Rupert: Prince Rupert Rampage rout Kitimat Ice Demons


Parksville brought out the big guns (or the big armored truck in this case) as they parked a massive RCMP Tactical Armoured Vehicle outside a Save On Foods for the ‘Cram the Cruiser’ food drive.

Residents of Trail ‘stuffed’ an entire bus with thousands of pounds of food and clothing donations.


Santa Shuffle

One of many special events this holiday season was the annual Santa Shuffle, an event in its 28th year. In 2018 the Santa Shuffle was hosted at six different locations in BC including, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Kelowna, Nanaimo, Vancouver, and Victoria.

Participants were encouraged to dress up for the Christmas season as they  joined in on the 5km Fun-Run or 1km Elf Walk!


Toy Mountain

A magical event that’s organized in different cities across the country offered donors a chance to help build a ginormous pile of toys at the annual Toy Mountain. Surrey’s Guildford Mall was home to more than 10,300 donated gifts before they were distributed by Salvation Army Community and Family Services.

Check out this great story from CTV on the wonder and joy of the Toy Shop that was set up in Vancouver.

What Happens After Toy Mountain is Built?

Hope in the City Breakfast

Vancouver and Victoria hosted Olympic Gold Medallists Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir at their Hope in the City events. The crowd on the Island were thrilled to see the ‘darlings of Canada’ at their very first annual luncheon, and the breakfast tradition in Vancouver raised its highest single-day amount of $450,000!


From stories of Grinches stealing presents and communities rallying together to save Christmas, to Turkey Drives raising $58,000 for their communities, we would like to thank everyone who contributed to the 2018 Christmas season. We hope all donors, volunteers, and staff had a very Merry Christmas and are excited to continue to give hope in the new year.