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By Jett Schwaier

SMILE SUNDAYS

Medicine Hat resident and war vet donates candy to children unable to trick-or-treat for Halloween

Nov 9, 2025 | 5:00 AM

Edward Devine, a Member of the British Empire and veteran, has donated candy to the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Society and the Medicine Hat Ronald McDonald House for children who were unable to trick-or-treat for Halloween.

Devine posted his initiative on Facebook and visited 41 homes in the city.

From Medicine Hat residents as well as people from outside the city, Devine had received a substantial amount of candy.

Devine said the candy he received from people in the city makes him proud to live in Medicine Hat.

“I’ve lived here now for nine years. I do non-stop charity work, and it just makes me feel good inside that I can contribute just a little bit to making Medicine Hat a nice place to live,” Devine said.

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Devine said the situation the kids in shelters are in, they don’t have the opportunity to go out and go trick-or-treating.

“They are not in there by choice, and every child should celebrate Halloween, just like Christmas,” Devine said.

“They deserve to have a smile on their face, just like any other child in the world,” he added.

“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t have these children in Medicine Hat have a smile on their face. That’s what it’s all about.”

Another initiative Devine is planning is a Christmas donation.

“It’s going to be for Christmas for the Ronald McDonald House and also for the women’s shelter,” Devine said

“Just to make sure the kids can wake up on Christmas morning and have a toy or something to open,” he added.

“It’s about making the children happy at Christmas, and that’s one thing I’m going to be working on over the next month to make sure that happens.”