A visit from Santa is an experience many children throughout Canada look forward to every year. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

good tidings

‘A lot of happy faces’: Santa in the North delivers 1,400 gifts to remote communities

Dec 7, 2023 | 2:32 PM

Christmas is known as the season of giving and the Santa in the North initiative is doing just that while providing a meaningful impact to children in five remote, northern communities.

Santa Claus, Saskatchewan Roughriders Brett Lauther and Jorgen Hus, as well as a team of volunteers, travelled to Stony Rapids and Black Lake on Monday as part of the first stops on the tour. They brought with them approximately 1,400 gifts with each student between Kindergarten and Grade 9 receiving a reusable bag containing a toy, candy cane, orange and a book. Those between Grades 10 and 12 each received a book as well.

The tour, which lasted three days, also included a stop in Fond du Lac and the team was scheduled to arrive in Wollaston Lake too, but that visit was cancelled due to weather conditions. Santa will also appear in Uranium City on Dec. 12.

“The North is not that remote when we talk about things that are important to people and when you’ve got children, especially young children, who still get excited around the visit of Santa,” said Dan Gold, the director of communications and stakeholder relations with Rise Air.

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“Something that the principal of Stony Rapids Community School said was it’s like a celebrity visit. It helps them feel important. It helps people feel noticed or included. I am no expert in this field at all, but if there is something we can do, us, our partners, our volunteers, to help Santa come to do that visit, then that’s important.”

Gold explained the initiative, which has been occurring for 23 years, is marking several firsts in 2023. The tour was the first time Saskatchewan Roughriders joined the trip, the first time Santa will make an appearance in Uranium City, and the first time all the books were either written, illustrated or both by Indigenous authors and artists.

Children were eager to get up close to Santa and let him know what they wanted for Christmas. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Roughrider Brett Lauther spends time with a student at Stony Rapids Community School. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Roughrider Jorgen Hus distributes gift bags at Fond du Lac’s Father Gamache Memorial School. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

Students were given many books to choose from during Santa in the North. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

The Santa in the North 2023 at the Stony Rapids airport. (Saskatchewan Roughriders)

“I have been here a total of eight years and I have certainly seen a change in that time to books that have come to the North,” Gold said.

“Seeing the difference and hearing from the parents and hearing from the schools about books where people can see themselves, that’s almost worth more. In fact, I would say that it is worth more than the orange, the toy, the bag and the other pieces because they are lasting elements that hopefully will help people be seen.”

Fond du Lac’s Father Gamache Memorial School vice-principal Giselle Mercredi noted the books will serve as an inspiration for local students. She said its important students have access to literature where they can see their own culture, story and background.

Living in such a remote area, Mercredi added the Santa in the North visit is a much-needed and looked forward to event for all community members. Even children too young for school were invited to come and have their picture taken with Santa and the Roughriders.

“I could see a lot of happy faces right now,” she said. “When Santa walked into the school this morning, there was a couple of staff and students in our rotunda area. As soon as they saw Santa, we would see all of their faces light up.”

Brett Lauther, a kicker with Saskatchewan Roughriders who holds the highest field goal percentage in the team’s history, enjoyed the visit and being part of the initiative. The Roughriders have also committed to joining the initiative again in 2024.

“It’s a little bit of reminder of the important things and step back from reality a little bit,” he said.

“It’s always fun to take pictures with the kids, talk to them of the importance of staying in school, reading. Coming back to schools like this reminds you a little bit of being a kid. It’s always fun to come up here, give back to the kids, and they are giving us a lot too and putting smiles on our faces.”

Santa in the North 2023 was made possible by several sponsors including Cameco, Graham Construction and Engineering, Orano, the Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, Athabasca Basin Development, SSR Mining, Snowbird Aviation Services, the Saskatchewan Roughriders Foundation, Rise Air, Optek Solutions and Symmetry Public Relations.

larongeNOW was invited to join Santa in the North as part of media representation.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com