Santa coming to Canadian Tire

The smiles on all our faces say it all. Come to the Caledon JumpStart Santa Workshop at Bolton Canadian Tire for photos with Santa and your beloved pets.

Santa Claus is coming back to town, but this time, he's headed farther south to Bolton Canadian Tire and has joined the Caledon JumpStart Team!

Starting Friday, Nov. 24 for seven sessions over 4 weeks, Caledon JumpStart will debut with Family & Pet Pictures with Santa Claws at their new Bolton Canadian Tire location. Bring your family (including pet) to a private sitting with Santa Claws for a professionally produced 4x6 digital picture framed in a decorative cardholder available for pickup the following day.

This workshop is an alternative to the shopping mall Santa kiosks we are all familiar with. They are tiresome and stressful, especially when you have young children, let alone the family pet.

"Bringing Santa to Bolton is an excellent opportunity for families to save time and money driving elsewhere outside of our community and equally important, this should help bolster holiday revenues to Bolton merchants" said councillor Garry Moore, who has been involved with Santa Claus for the past four years. "I personally hope that families, from pets to children, take advantage of this great initiative."

With the private enclosed area provided at Bolton Canadian Tire, JumpStart hopes to make a more relaxing and memorable sitting with Santa Claus as babies and pets are away from the harsh lights and access noise associated with mall Santas.

All monies raised will go to the Caledon JumpStart program, and picture packages start from $10. There's a deluxe set which includes a CD of several pictures and all the bloopers that could happen during a sitting with Jolly Saint Nick!

Canadian Tire JumpStart is a community-based charitable program that helps kids in financial need participate in organized

sport and recreation such as skating, soccer and swimming. The Caledon chapter is one of over 200 programs found across the country and has several Caledon-based events, such as The Great Skate, Dunk Tank, Summer Carnival and the Halloween Haunted House.

Help us give all kids a sporting chance. Bring your family to the Bolton Canadian Tire starting Nov. 24 and donate to the Caledon Canadian Tire JumpStart program this Christmas!

Workshop hours are Friday, Nov 24, 6:30-9:30 p.m.; Nov. 25 and 26, 12-4 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 2, after the Santa Claus Parade to 4 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 3, 12-4 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 7 and 14, 6:30-8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 11 and 18, 12 to 4 p.m.; Sunday, Dec. 12 & 19, 12 to 4 p.m.

Parents are asked to be with their young children and keep family pets on leash or in carriers. There will be an outdoor waiting room for those dogs that feel a bit "frisky" and have trouble behaving in the store.

JumpStart is looking for like-minded, fun-oriented people who would love to volunteer - with Santa pictures and upcoming 2007 events. To learn more about JumpStart, contact Chris Paradiso, Bolton Canadian Tire, at 905-857-5424.