A Peek at Santa’s Workshop

BCHS welcomes Duclos Kindergarten kids to Santa’s Workshop

The Kindergarten kids from Duclos Elementary school received a magical gift on Wednesday, a peek into Santa’s Workshop, located at Bonnyville Centralized High School (BCHS). The enchanted experience included a tour of the toy wrapping room, some fun games, and a visit from Santa.

Principal for BCHS, Corey Baker says the kids look forward to the day, “it’s one of most favourite day of the year, when the kids come to visit.” With a big smile on his face, Principal Baker says BCHS has been helping Santa for generations, “we have been doing Santa’s Elves since 1971, it’s the 45th year. Long before I was born!”

The school organizes the toy drive, throughout the community, acts as the central hub for collecting the toys and has a huge wrapping party, before handing off the gifts to Knights of Columbus, who deliver them to Santa to distribute. “Last year, we wrapped for 500 kids,” Baker says each year the school helps Santa even more, “it usually increases by about 10 percent.”

The community is a huge part of the BCHS’ ability to help Santa ensure that every good boy and girl in the community receives a gift. “Our community is something special. Bonnyville has been extremely generous over the years. Whether it’s toys or cash donations that come in, the Santa’s Elves account allows us the ability to go shopping sometimes to make sure we have enough toys for all of the kids.”

It’s the generous donations and all the support throughout the community that allows BCHS to operate Santa’s Elves. – Corey Baker Principal Bonnyville Centralized High School

“Times are tough this year; but, we’re pretty prudent people, so when times are good, we make sure we’re ready for when times are a little tougher. We’re going to be able to meet our quota this year, for sure.” People can donate to Santa’s Elves at BCHS, or if you spot a big red box at a store or organization pop a new, unwrapped toy in.

Some locations include:

• Ducharme Motors
• Real Canadian Wholesale Club
• MR MIKES
• Lakeland Variety
• Home Hardware
• Centennial Centre
• Red Apple
• Lakeland Co-op

“Ducharme Motors has probably gone above and beyond this year,” Bakers says with pride, “they’re filling an F-150 with toys and donating it.” At Ducharme’s you can also purchase a $10 gift bag and the crew there will go shopping for you. Check out more on Ducharme Motors Facebook page., the company hopes to have the truck full and ready for delivery for Friday, December 9th.

“Come on down to the wrapping night,” to truly take in this magical service, Principal Baker suggests to come and help wrap the gifts for Santa on December 15th. “Everybody is welcome, for sure they are! It’s all set up in the gym, we have tables, all the tape in the world, you could possibly imagine, wrapping paper… it’s all really organized.”

The gifts are wrapped in one evening, collected by Knights of Columbus and then given to Santa to deliver to all the boys and girls on his nice list.