INUVIK
Dressed in heavy, navy blue parkas, four homeless shelter clients joke about how the new coats could see them mistaken for police officers on the streets of Inuvik.

This wolf was spotted around Fort Simpson recently. An official with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources said three wolves have been reported in the village since Christmastime. - photo courtesy of Maxine Norwegian

The RCMP-issued jackets were donated by the local detachment just before Christmas, keeping a dozen people warm this winter, as temperatures drop and stay well below zero.

"Community policing is a big part of things here," said Cpl. Darryl MacMullin.

"With homeless people out on the streets and it getting colder, we thought it would be a great opportunity to give some jackets out to the shelter that aren't being used by members here and are in storage."

Some of the coats were left behind by officers that have been transferred, said MacMullin, and others were put away when a newer style of jacket was issued.

"We had no need for them here, and rather than just leave them in a pile in the corner or burn them, we figured, 'Let's make use of them,'" said MacMullin.

The idea to donate the coats came out of a shelter board meeting in November, said MacMullin, where he was discussing ways the RCMP could contribute to the challenges of homelessness.

"I'm the representative from the RCMP, to provide our perspective on how we can improve the community, to try to assist with the homeless," said MacMullin. "The shelter thought it was a great idea because they are always looking for donations, they're a non-profit. Any chance they can get to get some food or clothing, they will gladly receive and distribute it."

The official RCMP patches and logos were removed from the jackets by shelter board members before they were delivered, said shelter manager Chelsy Arey. The parkas were handed out on Christmas Day, when each client was also given two other donated gifts.

Some of the shelter's 21 clients were very much in need of the new coats, said Arey, adding that there were still two left.

"It's very cold during December and January, so it's really good we got these," said Arey. "The clients were really happy about that. When I brought them out into the TV room to look at, everybody was looking for their size."

MacMullin said the time of year for the donation was fitting both to get into the spirit of giving, and to provide warmth when it is most needed.

"We're heading into the colder months and we've been having moderate temperatures the last few days but prior to this it was minus 30 and 40 with the windchill," he said.

"Rather than have the jackets collect dust, they may as well be on the backs of the people who need them the most."

Through a pilot project that began in July, the shelter is now open 24 hours a day from Sunday to Wednesday.

However, from Thursday to Saturday it closes during the day, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., so Arey said staff were happy to know clients would have coats to stay warm on those cold days.

One client, Ester Allen, visited the shelter for the first time two weeks ago and found one of the parkas in her size to wear out shovelling and to work.

Other clients agreed the jackets were keeping them warm in the harsh winter weather.

"It's really good because it keeps them warm, and makes them happy," said Arey.