Regina family Christmas tradition turned into national campaign
A Regina man’s idea to spread Christmas cheer has become a national Coca-Cola Canada campaign.
John Thompson has been working for the company for over 20 years, previously as a truck driver.
Thompson said when his daughters were young he used to cover his delivery truck in lights and drive around.
“In 1999 we dressed up the truck and put some lights on it and drove around,” he said. “It was quite a hit.”
Now that his daughters have grown up and had kids of their own, they asked him to light up the truck again.
“Last year she (was) like dad we need to do this. With COVID-19, everything being shut down and malls not having Santa Claus, we need to do something to spread some cheer,” Thompson said.
In 2020, he dressed up the truck, invited Santa to come along and drove around Regina, making stops to visit families and businesses.
Coca-Cola Canada said they saw what Thompson did on social media and loved the idea. The company turned the small gesture into a national “Holiday Truck” campaign where Santa joins drivers across the country, making stops in various communities.
“So we started in Newfoundland on Nov. 13 and Santa is making a cross country tour ending in B.C. this coming weekend,” April Delorme, administrative coordinator with Coca-Cola Canada, said.
Thompson said it’s wonderful and overwhelming that the company picked up his idea and helped it grow.
“I get shivers on my neck when I hear and see what’s going on across the country,” said Thompson. “(I’m) happy that we got to kick start the whole program and got everybody on board this year.”
At the “Holiday Truck” stop at the Brandt Centre on Thursday, children from Regina told CTV News that they were excited to see Santa and loved the lights on the truck.
Coca-Cola Canada and Thompson have plans to continue the initiative next year, with more details coming closer to the holiday season in 2022.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Doctors combine a pig kidney transplant and a heart device in a bid to extend woman's life
Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.