While in-person photos with Santa’s representatives were largely able to return in 2021, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has taken its toll on St. Nick actors.
The founder of Here Comes Santa, a local business that represents over 30 Santas working in Metro Vancouver says the last two years have been challenging. Bill, who would like to keep his last name off the record so as to not totally spoil the magic, has been working as a Santa actor for the last 20 years.
Bill was the Santa for Grouse Mountain for eight years and worked many private functions as well.
Like many other Santas, business for Bill took a significant downturn over the last two years and the lack of gigs had a profound effect on him.
“It was like somebody took my left leg off and I could only hobble rather than run," Bill said.
The slowdown affected other Santa actors, attested Santa Bill.
"A lot of us have really taken it to heart," he continued, noting how hard it's been to look ahead at typically busy November and December to emerge after the holidays having barely worked at all.
Being the bastion of good cheer that Santa is known for during a global pandemic can be a tall order but there are a few key traits Bill says the Kris Kringle actors have in spades.
"It's like any other job,” he said, “You’ve got to be able to listen – which sometimes Santas have a hard time listening – but we do listen, we do hear."
All that being said, children were able to visit with Santas at Vancouver malls this year, they just had to be masked and socially distanced or behind a plexiglass barrier.
