The man with the biggest belly and the jolliest smile has been in Prince George for a few weeks consulting with children to make sure his list was checked twice.
Santa, the hardest working man at the North Pole, was here on assignment while Mrs. Claus stayed at their home further north to make sure the elves were keeping up with the toy demand before the big day on Dec. 25.
The Citizen was lucky enough to secure an exclusive interview with jolly ol' St. Nick to discuss what it is like to still be working at his age. Here are some of his insightful answers:
The Citizen: Christmas is right around the corner so how are the Elves holding up?
Santa: They are just going haywire at this point. That's why my voice is rough, because of giving instructions in a high-pitched voice all the time.
The Citizen: How are the reindeer?
Santa: The reindeer are doing well. They are getting really excited and are just chomping at the bit to get going. They are constantly in training to learn how to land on peaked roofs. It's not so simple.
The Citizen: Where is Mrs. Claus, is she here with you?
Santa: She's at the North Pole. Somebody had to look after those elves because they are forever getting into trouble. They are pranksters. They just do not pay attention. They are good workers, but most of the time they just fool around.
The Citizen: Do you have a favourite spot to visit on the night before Christmas?
Santa: I miss home. Home is a special place for Santa. It's a magical kingdom with only one way in. The only people who know how to get in are the elves, fairies and myself.
The Citizen: Do you ever take vacations?
Santa: I like going to warm places. The Bahamas is looking really good right now.
The Citizen: Have the requests for presents changed at all this year?
Santa: Actually, they seemed to have. The kids have gone back to toys. Last year, it was all iPods and iPads, computers and the technological toys. But this year they've gone back to traditional toys.
I just had one girl who asked for a Hungry Hungry Hippo game.
The Citizen: Making laptops must be difficult for the elves. Did they have to go back to school to learn how to make them?
Santa: They did for a couple of years, but the problem there is it's almost like they have ADHD, if I could use that modern term. Their attention span is only about 30 seconds.
The Citizen: Does the North Pole feel the effects of global warming at all?
Santa: We don't really notice it because Santa's house is set aside from the pole. So it's hidden because the fairies look after it.
The Citizen: Do you get tired of eating so many cookies and drinking milk on Christmas night?
Santa: No. I drink what I can and the rest I take back up to the pole and we have one heck of an afterparty. The reindeer, of course, love the carrots, except for Prancer - he only likes mince tarts.
The Citizen: Is Santa afraid of anything?
Santa: Satellites. It's not so much because of NORAD but I'm afraid if they put one up in the wrong spot, we might hit it one day.
The Citizen: Do you ever get tired Santa?
Santa: Not of this. It's a magical time of year and I've found around this time of year peoples' attitudes change completely and they start looking after one and other instead of being mean.
The Citizen: Will this year's Christmas be the best ever?
Santa: I'm hoping so. But I hope so
every year.
