Thanks to Robin Devine, Toronto cops and firefighters from Toronto and Mississauga and families of Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan will have a small, timely tribute to their loved one's ultimate sacrifice.

Devine designed the Canadian Afghan Mission watch last year as a tribute to the Canadian mission in Afghanistan and as a fundraiser for the Toronto Military Family Resource Centre.

But when people started calling her to buy the watch for the families of fallen soldiers, she realized she was offering more than just a timepiece.

"I realized there was a need, that people who were suffering wanted a tangible way of showing how much they cared on a daily basis," Devine said.

The Toronto Police Association, Toronto Professional Fire Fighters' Association and Mississauga Fire Fighters' Association stepped in to foot the bill so every family of a soldier killed in Afghanistan, both in the past and in the future, will receive the watch.

"It started as a Toronto initiative but now it has become a Canadian initiative," Devine said. "It was such a heartfelt gesture, it was there way of saying we care."

Aside from serving as solemn gifts, the watches have also become popular Christmas items for parents to send to their children still serving in Afghanistan and for soldiers in Afghanistan to order for their colleagues both overseas and on the homefront, she said.

"When you have a medal, you can't wear that medal every day, but with a watch, you can wear it every day," Devine said.

On Remembrance Day, one of the watches was presented to Prince Charles at CFB Petawawa. Canadians interested in buying the watch in time for Christmas can go to timeisticking.ca or call Devine at 416-925-5520.

Devine is no stranger to commemorative watches.

In 2006, she designed a watch marking the 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Around 500 of those watches were presented to every veteran at Sunnybrook Hospital.

DON.PEAT@SUNMEDIA.CA