Mr. Moosey’s visits the north on world tour

Mr. Moosey visits first responders in the north A stuffed moose toy is travelling the world to bring attention to the health and safety of first responders. Molly Frommer reports.

Afew years ago, a five-year-old girl, named MacKenzie, started a big initiative in Pennsylvania.

During a traffic stop, a young girl handed an officer her stuffed animal to help keep him safe.

The officer then passed the moose on to other emergency services back in February 2016, which is how Mr. Moosey's journey began.

Now, it's making its way through northern Ontario during his cross-Canada tour, having previously made appearances throughout the United States and other parts of the world.

Mr. Moosey is currently weighed down by a bunch of pins and badges.

The meaning behind this stuffed moose is to keep officers and all those working in emergency services safe, not only physically, but also mentally.

"There's parts of our job that is difficult at times. We trained very well to do our job, but it's acts of kindness and gestures like this that give us that extra support that we appreciate. We don't always see that in our line of work." said Ontario Provincial Police Constable Carmel McDonald.

But Mr. Moosey didn’t always look this way he does now.

"As you can see, he's quite decorated. He was a plain moose. This moose and the box that accompanies it is full of pins and flashes and even little badge cards." said McDonald.

There is a book full of handwritten notes for young MacKenzie to read when she receives her beloved toy back.

The OPP are now handing Mr. Moosey over to the Greater Sudbury Police Service.

"There can be lots of negativity. We deal with a lot of people in crisis situations, so this is a wonderful opportunity to bring a smile to an officer's face and sort of just remember that people in the community do truly care and it's important for our mental health." said GSPS Sergeant Sherry Young.

The police service says it has a lot planned for Mr Moosey.

"We’re fortunate to have our Mkwa Opportunity Circle going on right now, where the students are meeting their officers, so I will introduce him to the students. After that, policing changes on a daily basis, but we hope to include Mr. Moosey in a bunch of our different units and expose him to different opportunities." said Young.

Where will Mr. Moosey travel to next?  CTV News has been told that he will be heading to Sault Ste. Marie and then Thunder Bay.