Operation Radio Santa connects Saskatoon kids to North Pole

Saskatoon to the North Pole, do you read? Over.

Students at Cardinal Leger School were able to relay their Christmas wishlist to Santa Claus himself, as members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) reserves brought a military radio to a kindergarten classroom Friday.

The CAF gear had a direct line to the North Pole, with a surprisingly good connection.

Five-year-old Katherine Reimer started off with a fairly big request: a unicorn.

Her father, Cpl. Johann Reimer of 38 Signal Regiment, attempted to coax an easier wish to no avail.

“I tried to tell her it would be hard for Santa to get, but she was pretty insistent that he could,” he said.

“So hopefully Santa can find her a unicorn.”

Reimer has brought the radio connection to children across the city for 10 years, joining a program the regiment has run since the 1980s.

This year, Operation Radio Santa came to six schools in Saskatoon.

“It’s a great way to reach out to the community,” Reimer said.

Some children, like four-year-old Liam Phelps, were able to have a full conversation with old St. Nick.

Phelps asked how Rudolph was doing – “really well, playing a lot of Reindeer games” – and what Santa’s favourite type of cookie was – chocolate chip.

In a media scrum afterwards, the pre-schooler said he enjoyed the conversation.

“I used to think (Santa) was scary, but he’s not scary,” Phelps said.

The pre-schooler was also fairly confident Santa would fulfill his request for a Paw Patroller under the Christmas tree.

“I got my first letter from him, and I’m actually on the good list,” he said.

As for having military members, including his mom, help make the call to Santa?

“That’s pretty cool,” Phelps said.

Citing a busy schedule, Santa only spoke to children Friday and declined a media interview.