Thursday, March 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Button-Pushing Edmonton Toddler Wins His Parents A Free Trip To Tokyo

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Nov, 2019 09:00 PM

    EDMONTON - Lee Tappenden thought it was a scam when he got a call last week saying he had won a free trip to Tokyo.

     

    The caller was from Shaw, his cable company, and the prize was for ordering "Alita: Battle Angel" — an action movie based on a Japanese comic series and produced by Hollywood producer James Cameron.

     

    Strange thing was neither Tappenden nor his wife, Amy, had seen the movie.

     

    "Of course the first thing that rolled through my mind is a little bit of disbelief with all the scam calls going around lately," Tappenden recalled from his Edmonton home Monday.

     

    But a check of emails sent by the caller suggested the prize was legitimate and a call back to the company verified the good news.

     

    As it turns out, Tappenden's 20-month-old son Anthony had "ordered" the movie without the couple knowing — twice — in August, which made them eligible for the giveaway.

     

    "For the most part, you hear about these stories and it is all something negative that happens when kids play with your electronics," Tappenden said. "But this time it seems to have really worked out for us."

     

    Tappenden said Anthony loves anything with buttons. The boy had managed to set the family's PVR accidentally in the past. Tappenden checked his bills and noticed the tot had ordered yet another movie earlier in the summer.

     

    "A lot of the time he's grabbing our phones and remotes and pretty much anything with buttons that he can get his hands on."

     

    The week-long trip is valued at $8,500 and includes four-star accommodation, airfare and a bit of spending money.

     

    Despite Anthony's role in landing the prize, his parents say the boy is going to sit this one out.

     

    "I am not sitting on a plane for 14 hours with him and I don't want to do that to anyone else," his mom laughed. "He's way too busy to sit for 14 hours."

     

    "He gets a week at grandma's house," Lee Tappenden said. "We'll bring him back something."

     

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Digital Era Is Transforming Spycraft: Analyst

    Digital Era Is Transforming Spycraft: Analyst
    OTTAWA - An Israeli intelligence expert warns that rapid technological advances in data collection and analysis are transforming the way spy agencies work, potentially putting civil liberties at risk.    

    Digital Era Is Transforming Spycraft: Analyst

    Remembrance Day: Canadians Urged To Remember All Who Served

    OTTAWA - Thousands of Canadians braved sub-zero temperatures in the nation's capital on Monday to honour and remember all those — no matter their background — who offered up their lives to defend Canada, its values and its principles.

    Remembrance Day: Canadians Urged To Remember All Who Served

    Canada Among Three G20 Countries Least Likely To Hit Emissions Targets: Report

    OTTAWA - Canada's plan to meet its greenhouse-gas emissions targets is among the worst in the G20, according to a new report card on climate action.    

    Canada Among Three G20 Countries Least Likely To Hit Emissions Targets: Report

    Canada Supports Genocide Case Against Myanmar At International Court Of Justice

    Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said in a statement the move will advance accountability for the crime of genocide, which includes mass murder, systemic discrimination, hate speech and sexual and gender-based violence.

    Canada Supports Genocide Case Against Myanmar At International Court Of Justice

    Andrew Scheer Wants Trudeau To Open Parliament On November 25

    Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer will present a to-do list to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday that begins with a specific request: call the House of Commons back to work on Nov. 25.

    Andrew Scheer Wants Trudeau To Open Parliament On November 25

    WATCH: Don Cherry Sparks Online Backlash For Anti-Immigrant Comments On Remembrance Day. Canadians Outraged, Sportsnet Apologizes

    Sportsnet apologized Sunday for hockey commentator Don Cherry's televised rant about his belief that new immigrants don't wear poppies, and in turn don't support veterans -- comments that sparked a swift backlash from the public, politicians and the NHL.

    WATCH: Don Cherry Sparks Online Backlash For Anti-Immigrant Comments On Remembrance Day. Canadians Outraged, Sportsnet Apologizes

    PrevNext