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
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Which foods have the most plastics? You may be surprised
'How much plastic will you have for dinner, sir? And you, ma'am?' While that may seem like a line from a satirical skit on Saturday Night Live, research is showing it's much too close to reality.
opinion I've been a criminal attorney for decades. Here's what I think about the case against Trump
Joey Jackson, a criminal defence attorney and a legal analyst for CNN, outlines what he thinks about the criminal case against Donald Trump in the 'hush money trial.'
$3.8M home in B.C.'s Okanagan has steel shell for extra wildfire protection
A home in B.C.'s Okanagan that features a weathering steel shell designed to provide some protection against wildfires has been listed for sale at $3.8 million.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Mystery surrounds giant custom Canucks jerseys worn by Lions Gate Bridge statues
The giant stone statues guarding the Lions Gate Bridge have been dressed in custom Vancouver Canucks jerseys as the NHL playoffs get underway.
Celebrity designer sentenced to 18 months in prison for smuggling crocodile handbags
A leading fashion designer whose accessories were used by celebrities from Britney Spears to the cast of the 'Sex and the City' TV series was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty in Miami federal court on charges of smuggling crocodile handbags from her native Colombia.
Wildfire leads to evacuation order issued for northeast Alberta community
An evacuation order was issued on Monday afternoon for homes in the area of Cold Lake First Nation.