Holiday magic from the City of Orillia turns parking tickets into children’s gifts
November 27, 2024
Have you ever received a parking ticket and thought, “Wow, do I sure feel grateful”? Well, the City of Orillia is doing their best to change that.
Anyone in the city who received a parking ticket between November 1 and December 1 (with the exception of tickets related to accessible parking) is allowed to pay their fine by donating a new children’s toy of equal or greater value by December 2.
The annual event is in its 18th year and has now raised more than $46,000 in toys donated to local charity groups. The 2023 Toys for Tickets campaign raised more than $3,200 worth of children’s toys and monetary donations in lieu of parking tickets. The toys and toy store gift certificates were donated to the local chapter of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orillia and District, the Couchiching Jubilee House and The Salvation Army at a special presentation at Orillia City Centre on December 13, 2023.
“For nearly two decades the Toys for Tickets campaign has brought our community together to help support those in need during the holiday season,” said Mayor Don McIsaac. “We encourage anyone who receives a parking ticket during the campaign to bring in a new children’s toy in lieu of paying the fine. Your generous donation will help see that local families can experience the joy of the holiday season.”
Sometimes, Santa comes in the form of a Parking Enforcement Officer.