CUPE @ Your Service

Santas keep the spirit of giving -- and volunteerism -- alive

 

'Santa' as pictured in the November, 2009 Santa Claus Parade in Fort McMurray

 

 

He starts suiting up about this time every year.

Given Santa’s showcase appearances in Paris, London, Amsterdam and other major cities and nooks and crannies around the world, Santa is occasionally personified by others so that Mrs. Claus, the elves and the reindeer can complete their toy making and preparations for gift giving on Christmas Eve.

Being Santa is a privilege and a responsibility, explains James McIlveen, (pronounce Mac-il-veen), who first volunteered for the role in 2002 for ‘Santa Skates’ with former Mayor Doug Faulkner.

 “When a mother hands you their most precious possession, a three or four month old, that’s a feeling you can’t beat,” says Santa.

“That’s the payment for the whole season,” he continues.  “What parent would hand over their child to a total stranger in a red suit?”

For two months each year, more or less, Jim steps outside his regular life as a transportation technologist for the Municipality and becomes a real Santa.

He even has a Canadian passport and an Alberta driver’s license identifying him as such.

Preparation can take weeks and months since he sews his own suit and he enjoys it when it includes leatherwork.  As December approaches, he attends to details, his identity papers, checks his calendar and, since 2009, he visits a hair specialist and his flowing salt and pepper beard, eyebrows and hair become as white a snow, a process he reacted to with skin burn one year.

“I will not do Santa with a fake beard,” he says. “There are standards.”

“If a kid wants to pull on my beard, that’s okay.  The passport and driver’s license?  “They come out when I’m in conversation with children who wonder whether Santa is real.”

Being Santa for non-profit organizations is a cornerstone of Jim’s dedication to community and volunteering.

“You don’t get anything out of the community if you don’t give anything to the community,” he continues.  “When you hear people saying there’s nothing going on, of course, it’s because there’s nothing going on with them.

“I have been Santa for the municipality’s Wood Buffalo Recreational Society’s Children’s Christmas party since 2005, along with appearances at the Children Centre, a non-profit daycare, since 2007, along with a variety of others, including the Salvation Army and tree lighting ceremonies for the past few years at Borealis and Keyano.”

He’s a perennial volunteer who has worked with St. John Ambulance for 34 years. He has risen to the rank of the Most Venerable Order of St. John of Jerusalem, which means he can actually become a knight in the order.

In June, 2012, he received the Award of Excellence for his volunteer activities from the Lieutenant Governor at Government House.

Other volunteer activities include serving as the Legion’s treasurer since 2009, 20 years in the scouting movement as a leader with youth groups, and now, on the area board, with the Knights of Columbus since 2001 and with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 1505, since 1983. 

He tries to improve his characterization and persona each successive year.  “One year, I did the belt and the next year, for the Olympics in Vancouver and the Torch Run, it was the Torch gloves.  And, of course, there is the sprig of Holly in the hat.

“The question is, how do I enhance the enjoyment of the youth and the children.  Like I say, I may be getting older, but I refuse to give it up.”

“It’s just about the excitement in the eyes of the children.  It’s quite priceless, really. 

“I normally wear glasses, but as Santa, I don’t wear them, so if I’m on a float, I’ll be saying ‘Merry Christmas’ in minus 35 to vehicles whether there is someone in them or not. 

“I’m always up and moving.  I don’t sit there in the sleigh and look pretty.  It’s just part of the persona.

“And if you’re not having fun, what are you doing it for.”

 

Editor’s Note:  Santa is pleased to volunteer for special occasions over the season for non-profit organizations.  Just contact him soon – his calendar is quickly filling up.