Larry Tamkin’s spirit lives on through the Santa Larry’s Toy Drive.
Tamkin, who passed away on March 4, was well-known to generations of local families, having served as New Westminster’s Santa for 45 years, first at the old Woodward’s department store and then at Royal City Centre.
In honour of his decades of contributions to the community, people are invited to drop off new unwrapped toys to the Santa’s Workshop on the main floor of Royal City Centre until Dec. 24. The New Westminster Firefighters’ Charitable Society will disperse the donations in Santa Larry’s name to local groups like the New Westminster Family Place and the Lower Mainland Purpose Society.
Earlier this year, New West resident and lawyer Dale Darychuk sponsored a new Platinum Award in Tamkin’s honour. The Larry Tamkin Award recognizes the exceptional contribution of an individual to the welfare of the residents of New Westminster.
