Teddy bear drive
Gallant family holds final event.
During the 12 years they ran the campaign, Edna Gallant said her family was deeply touched by the widespread support their annual Chad Gallant Memorial Teddy Bear Drive received from family, friends, and even strangers.
“Families said kids would save their money and buy teddies and come bring them to the door when it was time to turn them in,” she noted.
The Summerside Western Capitals junior A hockey club has held an annual Teddy Bear Toss in support of the campaign and, previous to that, ScotiaBank Summerside collected teddy bears during the Santa Claus Parade. The bears ultimately end up with Prince District RCMP, and other first responders, to hand out as comfort toys to children who have been through a trying experience, such as an injury or a collision.
Because each of the teddy bears is tagged ‘In loving memory of Chad Gallant, March 26, 1982 – Jan. 14, 2006,’ the family has heard back from families of some of the recipients.
A young girl was rushed to hospital by her grandmother after choking. An officer happened to be there and gave her a teddy bear.
A family was in a collision and one of the children was taken to hospital and given a teddy bear. “The family contacted us to say how much it had meant to the little girl in the hospital, so we got teddy bears to the other two kids,” Edna said.
An upset child of a mother pulled over for speeding got one. On Monday, the 13th anniversary of Chad Gallant’s death, his mother and father, Edna and Bruce Gallant, his daughter Jasmyn Coughlin, 14, and his brother, Brett, arrived at the West Prince RCMP detachment with the proceeds of the 12th annual campaign, 253 teddy bears. “He was hit by a drug-impaired driver. He was killed instantly. He was on the way to Summerside to a hockey game. Jasmyn’s Mom was with him. She was okay,” Edna explained recalling the tragedy.
“If you have the unfortunate instance to have to bury your child, that never goes away. It’s always there,” said Bruce.
This is the last year the family is running the campaign.
“In the beginning it was five years we were going to do it; and it ended up we did it 12,” said Edna of a campaign that collected more than 3,600 bears over the years.
From every annual collection, Jasmyn has been able to pick out one teddy bear to keep.
“I think it helped me a lot, just to try to comfort me about everything that happened,” Jasmyn said. Western Capitals general manager Pat McIver has confirmed the hockey club will continue to hold a December Teddy Bear Toss.
“It’s fun, and people enjoy it at the game and it goes to a good cause,” McIver said. “We look forward to having it again next year.” The team hasn’t decided how to distribute the toys going forward, but he said they will end up with people in need.
“We’ll make sure they get into good hands,” McIver promised.
Every year, prior to the presentation of the teddy bears, the Gallants have hosted an evening where family and friends drop in to add the Chad Gallant tags to the donated bears.
“This year, being the last year, I’ve had everybody who helped over the years and I had a supper for them,” Edna said.
West Prince RCMP officers were out on calls when the Gallants dropped in with bags of teddy bears on Monday, but Staff Sergeant Derrick Hewitt relayed thanks on behalf of first responders, and said the gesture means a lot to the young recipients and their families.
Edna said her son would have loved the campaign.
“He loved to see smiles on children’s faces. He always liked to make the kids happy.”