By Catherine O’Hara, REVIEW STAFF

Not surprisingly, things at the North Pole are pretty hectic at Christmastime. While Santa is busy reviewing the naughty and nice lists, his elves work at lightning speed to make sure all those presents are ready in time for the big day. So this year – and in years past – the jolly man in red has had to rely on others for a bit of help, calling on special volunteers to fill in for him at various events throughout the community.

For the past 47 years in Waterdown, that man has been Harry Briggs.

Donning a tailor-made red suit, black boots and a white beard, Briggs has filled in for Santa at parties and other events – most notably in the Flamborough Santa Claus Parade, waving to hundreds of families along the route since it was launched 15 years ago.

But Father Time is calling in his markers, says Briggs, which is why he has decided to step down from the role he has filled so well.

“I enjoyed doing it and I still enjoy doing it, but my age and everything is starting to catch up to me,” he said. “I’ll be 80 in June; I figured it was time to get somebody else.”

Announcing his retirement to the Flamborough Santa Claus Parade  committee – not to mention Mr. Claus – was tough for Briggs. “I don’t want to, it makes me cry,” said the lifelong Waterdown resident.

But Briggs is comforted by the oodles of cherished memories that came with the job, some he shared with the Review.

It was a cold November evening when Briggs received a call from the big man in red. The volunteer firefighters in Waterdown were set to host a Christmas parade and party for the youth in the community and Santa couldn’t make it down from the North Pole in time to greet the children.

“Can you fill in for me, Harry?” asked Mr. Claus.

Briggs jumped at the chance. He, too, was a volunteer firefighter and was honoured to represent such a stand-up guy at the annual event.

Wearing the bright red costume, white beard and festive hat, Briggs made his first appearance as Santa. It was a roaring success – even his children, Mark, Patrick and Brian didn’t recognize him.

Quickly, word spread that Briggs received the special assignment. Community residents were thrilled at the thought of inviting Santa to their seasonal festivities. Mr. Claus, pleased with Briggs’s performance, called on him year after year to fill in at various functions throughout Flamborough and in surrounding communities.

In his prime, Briggs would attend 35 events leading up to Christmas. On cold winter evenings, he could be seen handing out candy to adoring children behind the old fire hall on Barton Street where he volunteered.

Briggs recalled, “Mark, the oldest boy, he was maybe seven or eight years old. My wife couldn’t find him so she come up to me and said, ‘I don’t know where Mark is.’” Across the street, was the Briggs boy, who pointed out, “Those eyes of Santa’s look like my daddy’s.”

For more than a decade, Briggs has been the centre of attention at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Children’s Centre. He said he will always remember one little girl who attended the Centre Road facility.

“She had blond curly hair and she just took off and snuggled right into Harry’s beard,” said Briggs’s wife, Janet. “She was just the sweetest little thing.”

Generally, it’s little girls who give Briggs a hard time about his true identity. “I’ve had more young girls pulling my beard than young boys,” he recalled, adding that when they do, he’s quick to shriek, “Ouch!”

Gift requests

But it’s the boys around 10 years of age who ask for the most extravagant gifts – like lots of cash and fancy cars.

“How can Santa Claus come from the North Pole with lots of cars pulling behind? Because there are lots of teenagers who like cars,” said Briggs. “By the time I get to Waterdown, they’d still be coming down from the North Pole.”

As for requests for money, the Waterdown man passes on a special message from Santa: “Money is no concern at Christmastime.”

With December 25 behind us, Briggs is saddened when he thinks about next year’s holiday season. And while he won’t be filling in for Santa Claus during the Flamborough Santa Claus Parade, he is keen on attending the magical evening event.

Typically seated on the brightly coloured float, Briggs will have a different viewpoint of the festivities during the 2012 instalment of the annual parade.

Because even after all these years, “I’ve never seen a parade yet,” said Briggs.