Media Centre

• News Releases
  • Canadian Forces Show Tour Heads North
  • Three Show Tours entertain Deployed Canadian Forces
  • Write To Troops But No Packages Please
  • Public Voting Opens in 40th Annual DND Photography Contest
  • International Military Golfers come to Ottawa
  • Performers to visit
    HMCS Calgary
  • Canadian talent visits HMCS Iroquois
  • Afghanistan Show Tour delivers entertainment from home
  • General Hillier to announce Military Families Fund Gala
  • HMCS Charlottetown to welcome aboard Canadian performers
  • Minister MacKay helps donate Christmas Trees to Military Families
  • Canadian Forces Salute Outstanding Athletes, Coaches, Teams and Officials
  • Salute to Air Force Sports
  • 4th CISM Military World Games
  • Canadian Citizens Raise $1 Million in Support of Our Troops
  • Support to Military Families
  • CF and Canadian Paralympic Committee Launch 'Soldier On' Program
  • An additional way for Canadians to support the troops
  • Maritime entertainers to perform for Canadian troops
  • Help General Hillier Support Military Families
  • CDS Military Families Fund
  • Hospital Comforts Program
  • Operation Santa Claus delivers gifts to deployed troops
  • Write to the Troops, No Packages Please
  • Supporting Parents of Single Regular Force Members
  • Task Force Afghanistan Show Tour: Smiles from Home
  • Trim a tree for a toonie
  • Canadian Forces Athletes, Teams, Coaches, and Officials Honoured
  • Support Our Troops
  • A good show for CF/DND firefighters at national competition
  • He shoots! We score!
  • Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency and Tim Hortons bring a taste of home to troops in Kandahar
  • Canadian Forces Elite Compete in the Ottawa Race Weekend
  • Opening Ceremony of International Military Sports Council's Running Championship
  • Northern Canada Prepares for CF Show Tour
  • Operation Santa Claus delivers parcels to deployed troops
  • Canadian Forces Show Tours head to the Middle East and Alert
  • Operation Santa Claus at the Canadian War Museum
  • Conference To Focus On Ideas For Healthy Living
  • Canadian Forces Salute Outstanding Athletes, Coaches, Teams, And Officials
  • Canadian Forces Athletic Excellence Honoured
  • Canada Day Celebrations with HMCS Winnipeg in the Persian Gulf
  • Canada Day Celebrations in Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • Eighty Canadian Forces Runners come to the Capital
  • Canadian Forces to Host International Soccer Tournament
  • Holiday Entertainment for Canadian Troops Away from Home
  • Operation Santa Claus delivers gifts to deployed troops
  • The Write to the Troops Electronic Message Board
  • CFPSA Show Tour Visits Troops in Afghanistan
  • Canadian Forces Salute Outstanding Athletes, Coaches, Teams and Officials
  • Media Advisory - Canadian Forces Athletic Excellence Honoured
  • Media Advisory - CF Hosts World Military Volleyball Championship
  • CF Hosts Canadian National Tae Kwon Do Championships
• Speeches and Transcripts
  • DGPFSS Transformation Meeting – Supporting Documents
• Archive

Operation Santa Claus delivers gifts to deployed troops

December 10, 2004

OTTAWA, ON - More than 1600 Canadian Forces personnel deployed overseas are about to be invaded with holiday packages from home. The Canadian Forces Personnel Support Agency (CFPSA) provides cheer, through Operation Santa Claus, to members serving in Africa, the Balkans, the Caribbean, the Middle East, Southwest Asia and the Arabian Gulf Region.

Operation Santa Claus is a unique program designed to enhance the morale of deployed CF personnel during the holiday season. It is an annual program organized by CFPSA that provides corporate Canada an opportunity to demonstrate support of Canada's deployed servicemen and women over the holiday season. The large-scale project commences the collection of donations in April each year. Packaging and delivery preparation occur in late-September to ensure delivery and distribution in December.

"The program ensures that all CF members who are working away from home over the holiday season receive a little holiday cheer," says Shirley Penney, CFPSA Amenities Coordinator.

The parcels are filled with candies, chips, peanuts, writing paper, and greeting cards from Military Family Resource Centres and grade schools. Companies who have donated items to be delivered to Army, Air Force and Navy personnel include:

Alcatel, Avery Dennison, Canadian Geographic, Coty Inc., E.D. Smith, Garretty Industries, Gillette, Hershey's, INS News Services, Sunstar Butler, Kruger Inc., Loblaws, Molson's, Montreal Allouettes, Muscle Magazine, Ottawa Senators, Petro-Canada, Proctor & Gamble, Pfizer Co., Quebecor World, Raptors, Royal Canadian Legion, Salvation Army, Schick, Sobey's West, Sony, The Personal Insurance Co., Tim Horton's, Video Group Canada, Walmar Atlantic, Wal-Mart Canada and Wrigley Gum. CANEX and SISIP Financial Services also contribute to the holiday gift packages.

Op Athena Welfare Manager, Alex Motuzas, says CF members will "most likely receive their gift boxes all on Christmas Day".

The CFPSA is responsible for enhancing the operational effectiveness of CF members through the delivery of morale and welfare programs.

Donations for the 2005 holiday season may be made through the CFPSA by visiting http://www.cfpsa.com .

For a current list of Canadian Forces Deployed Operations please visit: http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/operations/current_ops_e.asp.

To send a holiday message to the troops please visit http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/community/messageboard/index_e.asp

Contact: Stephanie Webster, Media Relations Coordinator, CFPSA, (613) 996-6204 webster.stephanie@cfpsa.com