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HO HO HO: Canada Post workers make sure each letter receives a response
Santa's elves help pupils pen their holiday wishes
Debora Van Brenk
Sun Media
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November 20, 2008
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Here's hoping Santa isn't quite as perplexed by five-year-old Nicholas Hogg's Christmas wish list as his elves were yesterday.
Retiree Stew Metcalf plays the role of a helpful elf with senior kindergarten pupil Jack Seguin, 5, at Lambeth's A. E. Duffield public school yesterday. Metcalf and other volunteers were helping a class of kids write letters to Santa as Canada Post kicked of its Santa Claus letter-writing campaign.
(MIKE HENSEN/Sun Media)
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The senior kindergarten pupil at A.E. Duffield school in Lambeth knew that to be in the running for gifts this year, he has to "be a good big brother" to his baby sister.
And he was delighted to let Santa know in a letter that the best reward for his patience would be a Bakugan.
Unfortunately, none of the adults in the room -- including the Canada Post elves who were helping his class officially launch this year's Santa letter-writing campaign -- knew what it was or how to spell it.
But Santa knows all about the ball-shaped toys that transform into battle warriors, Hogg is quite certain.
Each of the kids in the classroom received help to write and mail letters to Santa.
Canada Post handles 1.2 million letters to Santa each year, spokesperson Tom Dalby said.
Locally, more than 60 volunteers, including Canada Post employees and former employees, help make sure each letter is answered, in any one of 20 languages.
But children do need to remember to put addresses on their letters, he emphasized.
Retiree Stew Metcalf has volunteered to help answer letters for about 10 years. One of his most memorable notes was from a couple who sent a letter asking for toys for their cats.
But in this classroom, the requests were a little different.
Jack Seguin, 5, would like a Webkinz penguin.
Rachel Morgan, 4, asked for a motorcycle game. Asked if she rides a motorcycle, she said, "Not yet."
Omar Hakim, a supervisor at the letter carrier depot, said, "This is awesome. When I heard we could help kids like this, I said, 'I'm in.'"
Teacher Robin Kamphuis said the letter-writing launch at the school dovetails well with its theme: "The entire school goal this year is to increase our writing abilities."
The school also donated more than 1,000 food items to the Salvation Army yesterday.
--- --- ---
SANTA'S ADDRESS
Santa Claus, North Pole, Canada, H0H 0H0
*Include a return address if you'd like a letter back.
Debora Van Brenk is a Free Press reporter.
 E-MAIL: Debora Van Brenk
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