Santa Claus is coming to town.
Make that 14 Santa and Mrs. Claus hopefuls who are coming to town to take part in Calgary’s Santa School for the first time since its iconic leader, Victor Nevada, passed the reins to his apprentice.
Mentored by the man she called Santa Victor, Jennifer Andrews, a.k.a. Auntie Claus, took on the job of leading the annual three-day training program after Nevada died of pancreatic cancer earlier this year.
“Victor took his final sleigh ride — that’s how we word it in the Santa world — in March, but Santa never dies,” said Andrews.
“He was always training me to take over and it’s my desire to keep that dream alive for him and carry on his legacy.”
The two met eight years ago.
“I had a Christmas addiction, but unlike most kids, mine never went away,” said Andrews, who will run Nevada’s school today through Saturday.
Some Santas and Mrs. Clauses are traveling from Texas, Philadelphia and Oklahoma to attend. Even a Hollywood producer, who is making a feature film on Santa Claus, will join this weekend’s classes, which will teach students about the proper movements and physical appearance of St. Nick.
It also focuses on how to answer what Andrews calls “the tough questions,” including: “How can you be everywhere all the time? How do you fit all the gifts in your sleigh? Can I have a pony for Christmas?”
“It’s a lot more than slapping on a beard and putting on an outfit,” said Andrews.
“It’s one of the toughest but one of the most rewarding jobs in the world.”