‘It’s very exciting’: Santa visits isolated communities in Northern Manitoba

Santa traded his sleigh for a plane to visit remote Manitoba First Nations, delivering treats and joy to kids and seniors alike. Alex Karpa tagged along.

Santa Claus didn’t need his reindeer or sleigh to spread holiday cheer.

Instead, he used a plane, travelling to several remote and isolated First Nations communities in Northern Manitoba.

“To see them, and to see them come out and see Santa is something that is very meaningful and it’s all very emotional,” said Grand Chief Garrison Settee of the Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (MKO).

It’s all part of the MKO’s yearly “Santa Express” mission, an initiative that started back in 2009.

CTV News joined Santa and his helpers on Monday, hitting four communities in northeastern Manitoba.

The first stop was in Bunibonibee Cree Nation, also know as Oxford House. There, Santa made stops at the George Colon Memorial Home and the Oxford House Elementary School, where hundreds of kids eagerly awaited his arrival.

“This is the first time Santa has visited this school,” said Hilda Weenusk, who is the principal at the school. “Usually, it’s at the airport and not all students get to enjoy his visit.”

“The kids are really enjoying it,” she said. “It’s something different. It brings joy. It brings happiness. It brings togetherness. The students are smiling and happy.”

The Santa Express then flew to God’s Lake First Nation, southeast of Oxford House. There, families and children were lined up at the community’s airport, eager and excited as the plane landed.

“The kid’s go crazy for this,” said Myles Spence, a councillor in the community. “This is a very special day for them.”

“We’re an isolated community, so having Santa come into the community for kids to see Santa, where in the south you can see him every day, but here, just once a year, so here it’s just extra special,” he said.

The Santa Express then made trips to Manto Sipi Cree Nation (God’s River), Shamattawa First Nation, and finally ended the day in York Factory First Nation.

But Monday was just the first day of Santa’s visits.

The Santa Express is visiting 25 communities, delivering 12,000 treat bags filled with candy and toys.

All of this wouldn’t be possible without the partnership with Manitoba-based Perimeter Aviation, who supplies the plane to MKO.

“It really gives us the chance to give back to the communities we serve,” said Joey Petrisor, who is the CEO of Perimeter Aviation. “The kids’ smiles that we get back is very important, and it’s just giving a little bit of hope and happiness this holiday season, spreading some joy.”

“There’s a ton of planning that goes into this initiative,” he said. “We have a team that starts planning about six months ahead of time, making sure Santa hits all the communities.”

“We have partnered with our sister companies, Custom Helicopter, and Keewatin Air, to make sure that Santa and his elves can bring Christmas cheer to communities that MKO serves,” said Petrisor.

‘This year is extra special’

Santa’s visits to Northern Manitoba are especially meaningful this year, as thousands were forced out of their homes due to raging wildfires this past summer.

More than 30,000 people were given evacuation orders, leaving many out of their homes for months on end.

People in some communities have yet to return.

“We’re coming to at least eight First Nations that were evacuated most of the summer, the children were away from home, being absent from school,” said MKO Grand Chief Settee. “I think this will do them good.”

Settee says there is a ton of planning that goes into this yearly mission but it’s all worth it.

He says it’s important to make sure every child can experience the Christmas magic, no matter where they live.

“We do it because it needs to be done,” Settee said. “We need to connect with the children, because they are the future and they are the one’s that will carry us forward as First Nations and we need to invest time into these communities.”

“This is something that changes the lives of children,” he said. “It brings hope, it brings happiness, and it brings joy, and I think essentially, this is what the season is all about.”