The 24th annual Santa in the North has delivered smiles across Saskatchewan’s north.
Every child received a gift bag containing a book from an Indigenous author or illustrator, a healthy snack-a traditional mandarin-and a candy cane. For children from daycare to elementary school, additional age-appropriate gifts were included in the bags.
Last year, we committed to having Santa attend all schools; however, bad weather prevented our visit to the Hatchet Lake community. This year, we fulfilled that promise. In addition, the Saskatchewan Roughriders Foundation participated in Uranium City, allowing the players to meet the children and deliver mental wellness and literacy programming to all locations.
Rise Air wishes to thank the following partners for joining us to make Christmas in the North even more special: Graham Construction, Orano, Cameco Corporation, Athabasca Basin Development, Saskatchewan Indian Gaming Authority, Points Athabasca Contracting LP, the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation, Saskatoon Co-op, Fermi Exploration, KPCL Dirt Movers (Kelly Panteluk Construction Ltd.), Uranium City Bulk Fuel, our media partner, Eagle Feather News, and our colleagues at Snowbird Aviation Services and Rise Air.
Literacy provides a lasting gift through the Indigenous-authored and illustrated books given to the children. Athabasca Basin Development, Optek Solutions, Team Drilling, Flyer Electric, Points Athabasca Contracting LP, Points North Group of Companies, Athabasca Basin Security, Long Lake Insurance, and Arctic Beverages LP collaborated to make this happen.
Additional books and gift bags were donated to the school libraries.
Thank you to the following volunteers who made the journey north over the past two weeks: Kian Schaffer-Baker, Jorgen Hus, Peter Godber, Charbel Dabire, Morgan Fleury, Karina Peterson, Ibinabo Abule, Raphael Olaniyi, Bella McMahon, Allison Strong, Natania Bartlett, Anne Gent, and Noah Callaghan.
Dan Gold, Director of Marketing and Stakeholder Relations, stated, “While the weather forced us to change the schedule, Santa, the Roughriders, and volunteers made it to all destinations, delivering more than 1,540 gift bags, reflecting the increase in the number of excited children meeting Santa on the day.” Gold continued, “We couldn’t do this without our amazing partners, sponsors, volunteers, and, importantly, the schools themselves for supporting this annual event.”
To our new sponsors and existing partners, you have made a real difference by bringing smiles to children across the Athabasca Basin. We look forward to Santa in the North 2025 and are delighted that several organizations have already expressed their support for next year. As we approach the holiday season, we give thanks to those who work with us to make Santa in the North a success.
Mr. S. Claus added, “We had a wonderful time with all the children. Their energy and happiness were the fuel we needed to bring our ‘A-game’. I learned that phrase from my new friends from Regina-Go Riders.”
There were many pictures given to Santa this year and here are just a few!