Candy Cane Check Stop Spreads Christmas Cheer

Candy Cane Check Stop Spreads Christmas Cheer

Michelle Pinon News Advertiser

Local Peace and Police Officers spread some holiday cheer by treating motorists to Candy Canes on December 19.

In return, travellers from near and far, wished the officers glad tidings and passed along their appreciation to the officers. “This year we had approximately 250 vehicles come through our operation,” stated Town of Vegreville Community Peace Officer Ken Podoborozny, who worked alongside his colleague Garret Perepeluk and RCMP Cpl. Ray Stack, on Highway 16A throughout the afternoon.

Vince Vandale, far left, poses with Community Peace Officer, Garret Perepeluk, RCMP Cpl. Ray Stack and Community Peace Officer Ken Poloborozny during the Candy Cane Check Stop in Vegreville on Dec. 19.

“Every year we try to set up Check Stops, Document Checks, and of course our favourite, the Candy Cane Check Stop where we actually give out candy canes,” stated Podoborozny.

“The comments from the public throughout this year were extremely positive with some motorists offering to get us coffee, baking, and one person wanted to give us a donation of $20 to buy more candy canes. There were lots of ‘Merry Christmas’ and ‘Thank You’ for making our roads safer for us to travel on. Of course the kids in the cars were all smiles when they got candy. Surprisingly there were lots of holiday travellers on the road enroute to far destinations such as Victoria and Ottawa, and some were off skiing and sledding.”

Podoborozny said they have been conducting the Candy Cane Checkstop in Vegreville for around the last five years. He added that two years ago they gave out snow brushes in the hopes of whisking away impaired drivers. The practice of operating Check Stops in Alberta dates back 46 years ago in Alberta.