Another “Toy Mountain” will be built at Guildford Town Centre starting Thursday, Nov. 30.
Over two days, people are urged to bring new, unwrapped toys to the Surrey mall’s Centre Court area to help Lower Mainland Christmas Bureau bring some holiday cheer to the less fortunate.
The annual charity event involves media partners CTV Vancouver, MOVE 103.5 and 94.5 Virgin Radio, all on location Nov. 30 from 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Dec. 1 from 5:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Those who make a donation there between 6 and 9 a.m. will be given “breakfast to go” from Triple O’s.
People can also donate to the cause on the mall’s website (guildfordtowncentre.com) with a link to bc.ctvnews.ca/toy-mountain.
Also at Guildford Town Centre, photos with Santa began Nov. 17 and continue until Dec. 23 on the “Santa Set” at Centre Court North. The hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, and times can be booked on guildfordtowncentre.com/photoswithsanta, where prices are detailed. The attraction involves a 30-foot walk-through Christmas tree and photography by North Pole Picture Co.
The mall’s Gift Wrap Lounge opens Dec. 1 at Centre Court, next to the Lush store. All proceeds go to Surrey Fire Fighters Charitable Society, which backs 80-plus initiatives in Surrey. Firefighters will be on hand to wrap gifts for guests. The lounge has a fire hall design, complete with a vintage fire truck.
Elsewhere in Surrey, entries in the Gingerbread Village contest hosted by Downtown Surrey Business Improvement Association (BIA) will be showcased at Central City Shopping Centre from Dec. 2-10.
Prizes of up to $1,000 will be awarded after the creations are showcased, in eight contest categories with the theme of “Tomorrow’s Surrey, Today’s Gingerbread” (what Surrey might look like in 20, 50 or even hundreds of years from now). The deadline to enter is Friday, Nov. 24, on downtownsurreybia.com/Events/GingerbreadVillage.
Winner of the People’s Choice Award will walk away with $1,000. For that award, people vote with donations to Surrey Christmas Bureau.
The categories are Elementary School (Primary), Elementary School (Intermediate), High School, Post-Secondary, Charity, Non-Profit/Service Club or Community Group, Open (adults 19+) and Open (under 19). Creations will be judged for “wow” factor, uniqueness, attention to detail and more.