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“SANTA: and his elves drew lots of attention as they’ waved at passérsb

to many ‘people’s homes during the holidays. us sa tradition that began nearly 30 years ago.

Secret Santa thrives on SUIT or

By SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN °

CHRIS ‘ARNOLD knows better than’ most that
giving gifts over the holiday season is far more

., rewarding than receiving. ;

Every year the unassuming. and modest man
dresses up like Santa Claus delivering gifts and
treats to dozens of people not Just i in Terracé but
around the region.-

Many people” never know who he is or why’

he’s visiting and Arnold likes it that way.
» Ital ‘started. in 1977 when Arnold was just

eight years old living in Calgary, Alberta. He_

was enlisted. by his aunt Sharon to dress up as an
elf to bring gifts to some.family friends. . - >
Aunt Sharon called every costume rental out-

let in the city looking fora. Santa suit; but’ to no *.

avail.
Determined. ‘to be disguised, Sharon’ rented
an Easter Bunny suit and out she went with her

~ elves.

“My grandmother had to really quickly make
us — out of old bed sheets — some elf hats with
cotton balls at the end.” Arnold recalls.

After that year the family decided they would
have to start a Santa trunk complete with Santa
suit, Mrs. Claus outfits and elf costumes for the
little helpers.

Today, nearly 30 years later, Arnold’s f. amily

Brimming™
with. warm .
wishes

: To all our. custome 5.
-and their:

Have. 1 Very Mery:
Christmas, and a:

’ has a costume: trunk in three cities - Terrace, Ka-

mloops and Calgar y- where the tradition carries
on. , 4

His family calls, it Santa Clausing and it’s a_

‘custom he’s continued since he moved here in,
1989 for work. —

“Living i in Terrace, I have no family up here, so
at least being able to do the Santa Clausing helps

keep me in tune with everybody,” he says.”

“Ofcourse ewhen yousee a vehicle

full of Santa and elves stopped at
» a.stop sign you get a reaction,”
_7 Chris ‘Santa’ Arnold’ Oo

y last: week. The jolly old elf and his helpers make unexpected visits .

~ were good.” |

_ SARAH A. ZIMMERMAN PHOTO

them up.”

’ The duo has a hit list of friends and family they’
deliver the treats: to each year, but it’s the’ strang-
ers they meet that really make, the annual event —
special. ~" :

Armold recalls being i in Calgary one: year, he.

. and his cousins dressed as elves, joining his aunt,
who started the tradition, on their rounds... :

“Of course when you see a vehicle full of San-
ta and elves stopped at at'a stop sign you get a
‘reaction,’ > Arnold recalls “We would. actually get
out at intersections‘and red lights we'd get out and
give them popcorn balls as long | as they. said they

And the same ‘Phenomenon haps in Tete
race. r

' “Almost every time there is. some stranger. we.

don’t know ‘that either stops us or if we. notice .

someone peeking out the window we can’t just’

Arnold i isa a behavioural consultant for the Pro-
vincial. Networking Group i in Terrace but to many
unsuspecting folks in the northwest he’s the jolly _
old elf who unexpectedly brings joy and presents
to children.nd adults alike. ae

“We dress up as Santa and as many elves that
we can recruit and usually the tradition is we give.
out popcorn balls,” he says, adding these days he
and his wife make hundreds of the yummy treats
complete with green and red popcorn to spruce

a

q coved

gs of |

leave — we actually go over. to them,” he says.
“That’s actually the funnest part.”
A thick three-ringed photo album covered’ in

" colourful Christmas -fabric is. the keeper of the

Arnold family Santa Clausing.outings. It’s. filled .
with journal entries and photographs.
“If I went through that Santa journal it seems

_ every year there is something that stands out,” ” he:

says.

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