Turnabout is fair play for the Canadian Toy Testing Council's first online charity auction, taking place on eBay.ca from June 13-23. In this case, donated toys are helping the CTTC raise funds to support its ongoing toy testing program as well as other key programs, like its child literacy project.

The Canadian Toy Testing Council (CTTC) is the leading authority on toys in Canada, and has been helping parents make informed toy choices since 1952. Each year, the Council releases its much-anticipated Toy Report and its list of award-winning toys. "We're an independent non-profit organization and a registered charity, but I don't think that's well-known," explained Executive Director Leigh Poirier. "The Canadian government does not fund our toy testing program, so we rely on the support of our members, retail partners and sponsors, as well as fundraising like this eBay.ca auction. In fact, our eBay.ca name is 'besttoytestingcharity.'"

The CTTC has held "live" charity auctions before, but this is its first online auction. "I know how effective eBay.ca is in reaching bidders, as I have personally used it," commented Special Projects Manager Janet Hetherington. "We have wonderful toys in this auction, and we have some unique autographed collectables as well, like the NHL ties. There's something for everyone."

The quality items appearing in the auction include Neopets toys, a Spider-Man Fan Pack, Groovy Girls sets and accessories, K'Nex building sets, Klutz activity pack, Zapf collector's doll, LEGO Star Wars and NBA Challenge building sets, My First Leap Pad interactive reading toy, Mattel collector's Barbie dolls, Plasma ride-on toy cars, Cranium game pack, Little Tikes child's desk and chair, and much more.

Then there are the collectable items, like the 10 signed NHL ties (one of which is autographed by the New Jersey Devils' GM Lou Lamoriello), the Baby Kate doll signed by Arthur creator Marc Brown, the Babylon 5 script book signed by writer Neil Gaiman, and the 1991 Weird Tales magazines signed by William F. Nolan (creator of Logan's Run) and Gahan Wilson (renowned cartoonist). "Collectors are always looking for one-of-a-kind items of this type on eBay.ca," Hetherington noted.

People interested in bidding must be registered eBay users, but registration is easy and free; just visit www.ebay.ca. To view and bid on the CTTC eBay.ca auction items beginning June 13-23, visit the eBay.ca site and look for the charity link to CTTC's "Toys & Ties" or "Learning as we play" banners. Click on any of those or go to http://members.ebay.ca/aboutme/besttoytestingcharity Bidders from Canada and the U.S. welcomed. Every bid helps!