Former NHLer, Cochrane’s hometown hero, and president and managing partner of Cochrane GM, Mason Raymond, is giving back to the community through the Calgary Flames Alumni Christmas Toy Drive that will be taking place through December.
Starting today until Dec. 20, Cochranites can bring gifts, gift cards, or cash donations to the Cochrane GM showroom. All proceeds from the drive be given to less fortunate children and young teenagers in the community on Christmas Eve.
“Dec. 20 is when we will be wrapping them and we actually deliver them on Dec. 24,” Raymond said. “It’s a pretty humbling experience to go in there and see what this can do and [seeing] the eyes that light up for these kids and young teenagers.”
Raymond added that a special event on Dec. 9 will also take place at the Cochrane GM showroom, as part of the toy drive.
“Between 10 a.m. and 11:30 on Saturday, Dec. 9, myself, Brent Gogol, Marty Gelinas, and Zach Smith will be here, and we are going to be signing some hockey cards, say hello, and take some pictures,” Raymond said. “We are hoping that people will bring something to be able to give to kids that are less fortunate.”
Raymond said he is very fortunate to have played for the Flames for a few years during his decade-long career as a pro hockey player. As a group of community-focused individuals, the toy drive is something that the Flames Alumni do year-over-year.
“Since retiring in 2018, I’ve been involved with Flames alumni,” Raymond said. “I’ll say it’s a very in-depth, very committed group of gentlemen.”
Although this is a yearly initiative done by the Flames Alumni, Raymond said this will be his first year hosting the event in Cochrane.
“My upbringing was here, I played my hockey days here in Cochrane, I grew up on a farm just outside of Cochrane, and it’s a big part of other businesses that I run,” he said. “So again, I am proud to be from Cochrane, Cochrane is home, and a place I like to give back.
“I want Cochrane GM to be known [by] our slogan – locally owned, community focused, and people driven.”
Overall, Raymond said he looks forward to seeing members of the community in the following weeks and on Dec. 9.
“In a nutshell, again, I feel very fortunate to do a lot of charity work and not for profit type things,” Raymond said. “But this one is close to me because I grew up playing hockey and it was a life, I lived prior to taking over Cochrane GM.”
With Cochrane GM part of the Murray Auto Group, he said a major focus for him and his team is to better serve both their customers and community, which also allows them to give back to Cochrane.
“It is the people, locals, and the customers that are here to help us do great causes like this,” Raymond said. “It can be something big or something very small, every little bit can help towards this initiative that we’re working towards.”
