Members of Lethbridge Police Service, Crime Stoppers, and Circle K launch Operation Heat/Freeze. (Lethbridge News Now)

By David Opinko

Lethbridge Police rewarding good behaviour with free hot/cold drinks

Jan 17, 2020 | 2:12 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – Good deeds deserve good rewards.

Lethbridge Police Service (LPS), Crime Stoppers, and Circle K are teaming up to bring Operation Heat/Freeze to the city.

“It’s just a good way for us to, I guess, reward positive behaviour,” says LPS Constable Shawn Davis. “A lot of times, people think people are out there just punishing poor behaviour and it’s nice to have community partners, whether it’s Crime Stoppers and Circle K involved, to go out there and see some of our kids and marginalized people and give them some coupons.”

Operation Heat/Freeze has existed in numerous communities throughout Western Canada since 2007, but this is the first time it will be available in Lethbridge.

Sherry Coey, the Security and Loss Prevention Manager with Mac’s / Circle K Convenience Stores, says they are starting out with 3,000 heat vouchers and 2,500 freeze vouchers.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

The heat vouchers are given out in the winter and can be redeemed for a free hot beverage, while the freeze vouchers will get you a Froster at no charge in the summer.

Davis explains that officers will be given bundles of the vouchers, and any time they notice good behaviour in the community, they can give them out as a reward.

There is no exact definition of what constitutes “good behaviour”.

“That’s going to depend on the officer. Every officer’s going to something – it could be a matter of clearing snow, helping someone cross the street, a kid wearing his bicycle helmet – we want to promote them to keep doing this.”

While not every community in Western Canada is part of the program, the vouchers can be redeemed at any Circle K or Mac’s Convenience Store in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, or Manitoba.

For local news delivered daily to your email inbox, subscribe for free to the Lethbridge News Now newsletter here. You can also download the Lethbridge News Now mobile app in the Google Play and the Apple App Stores.