These Winnipeggers are using Halloween haunts to help charity
With Halloween fast approaching, Winnipeggers across the city are putting up their spookiest decorations. In River Park South, some residents are using their Halloween haunts to raise money for charity.
For Chris Okell, what started as a Halloween family tradition has grown into something much larger -- about 800 pounds to be exact.
Okell's annual giant pumpkin display on Baisinger Drive has raised thousands of dollars for cancer research in honour of his late mother, Marietta.
"I started doing these big pumpkins 20 some years ago, and then with the loss of mom, that's when I started doing this thing called the Pumpkin Promise," said Okell.
The display is a community effort, with local farmers growing and donating the special Atlantic Giant pumpkins that can grow to almost a thousand pounds.
"They start them early in the spring. They'll get the seed growing and once it's going, they'll put it outside and watch it, see which ones are going to be good and cut off the bad ones and then from there it's whatever secrets they have," explained Okell.
Chris Okell with a giant pumpkin.
But for Okell, it's not about growing the largest pumpkin; it's all about raising cheer and money for charity.
"Even if it's just a smile, you know, they have that little glimpse of seeing the pumpkins and what someone is doing, then I'll keep doing it."
Okell isn't the only River Park South resident using the holiday to spread some good.
A few blocks over on Highbury Road, Andrew Royal is creating a much spookier display to collect item donations bound for Siloam Mission.
"It's something we always donated to, so over the last few years, we've been taking donations," said Royal.
Andrew Royal is collecting items for Siloam Mission at his Halloween house.
And like Okell, Royal's reward for the display is seeing people's smiles and knowing he's helping a worthy cause.
"You kind of get a double whammy there," added royal, "You get to share your favourite holiday and you get to give back and it's always something special."
Three cul-de-sacs over from royal, the Giroux family is collecting food donations for Harvest Manitoba.
Rachel Giroux said she's decorated their Fonseca Place home in Halloween decorations for a decade now.
"It's been growing with posting it on Facebook," she said. "The community really starts to know who we are."
"We grew from, I think, sixty pounds in the beginning to two years ago before COVID-19 to 350 pounds last time."
Giroux said she's looking to beat that record this year.
The Giroux family's Halloween display is collecting food donations for Harvest Manitoba.
"It is the most important thing for us. [Harvest Manitoba] is a huge factor, and it needs our help."
Giroux said getting to dress up and have fun come Oct. 31, already makes Halloween the best holiday, let alone all the donations.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Countries struggle to draft 'pandemic treaty' to avoid mistakes made during COVID
After the coronavirus pandemic triggered once-unthinkable lockdowns, upended economies and killed millions, leaders at the World Health Organization and worldwide vowed to do better in the future. Years later, countries are still struggling to come up with an agreed-upon plan for how the world might respond to the next global outbreak.
NEW Iconic Canadian song turns 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.
Whooping cough outbreak declared in Newfoundland
Health officials say there is an outbreak of whooping cough in eastern Newfoundland.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.