The annual Toys for the North campaign has officially kicked off with the arrival of Santa on a plane full of gifts.

Santa touched down in Happy Valley-Goose Bay on December 6th to deliver a shipment of toys and hockey gear for players and goalies.

The toys and equipment are now being distributed to children from newborn to age 11 in northern Labrador coastal communities.

The initiative is a partnership between the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador, RCMP Air Services, the Canadian Toy Association, Thomson Terminal, the Royal Canadian Air Force, 5 Wing Goose Bay and Woodward Aviation.

The Toys for the North program has been distributing items to the north coast since 2012 with an average of 4000 kids getting a toy delivered by RCMP employees across the country.