On a crisp Sunday morning, the familiar hum of a Twin Otter’s engines broke the quiet.
But this wasn’t any routine flight — this one carried the man in red himself.
For decades, Santa has traded his sleigh for a Twin Otter to bring Christmas magic to northern Labrador.
In the Inuit coastal communities of Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik and Rigolet, children huddle by the airport fences, clouds of breath visible in the frosty air, their eyes glued to the horizon.
Then, a shout: “It’s Santa!”
The plane eases to a stop, and the doors swing open to reveal the man himself, jolly as ever, with Mrs. Claus following close behind.
The crowd erupts in cheers.
“We look forward to Santa coming every year,” said Marjorie Flowers, the angajukKâk in Hopedale.
“It’s the joy on the children’s faces that makes it so special. Despite the weather, they finally got here today.”
Christmas came early for hundreds of children on Labrador’s north coast.
Last weekend, Santa and Mrs. Claus visited Postville, Makkovik, Hopedale and Rigolet.
But rather than board their sleigh, the couple hitched a ride on a PAL Twin Otter plane, in a tradition that’s been going strong for nearly 60 years.
The excitement seems contagious.
Jonathan Nochasak, bundled in his warmest coat, can hardly wait his turn to talk to Santa. His list is ready. “A volleyball net, a big speaker, and a round trip to Goose Bay,” he says confidently.
“The round trip is going to be like an act of paradise. The volleyball net and the speaker are going to be used for entertainment and exercise.” Then, with a laugh, he adds, “Oh no, I forgot to tell Santa I need a ball, too, not just the net!”
Santa’s helpers unload 365 packages, each carefully prepared by the Happy Valley-Goose Bay Rotary Club for the children who line up eagerly to receive them.
Inside is a gift that connects Labrador’s rich culture to Christmas: children’s author Robert Munsch’s Give Me Back My Dad!, a story inspired by his visit to Rigolet years ago.
For Ella Allen, the book carries even more significance. It’s dedicated to her cousin Cheryl Allen. Clutching her copy, she beams. “Thank you for all the times you’ve brought me stuff,” she says, leaving a message for Santa.
The adults feel the magic, too.
James Earle, one of Air Borealis’ pilots, gets a front-row view of the children’s excitement.
“As soon as we pulled onto the taxiway, the kids were jumping up and down by the fence,” he says. “They can’t wait to see Santa and get their loot bags. It just makes the kids’ day.”
This cherished tradition began nearly 60 years ago, when the Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force, stationed in Goose Bay, came up with a creative way to spread Christmas cheer to Labrador’s northern communities.
Using a De Havilland Single Otter on skis, they would fly in gifts, landing on frozen harbours when the ice was solid. On occasions when conditions weren’t ideal, the gifts were parachuted down, adding a sense of adventure to the season’s celebrations.
In the late 1980s, the Happy Valley-Goose Bay Rotary Club took the reins, partnering with Air Borealis (formerly Air Labrador) to keep the spirit of the event alive.
“This isn’t just about gifts,” says Randy Letto, current president of the Happy Valley-Goose Bay Rotary Club. “It brings happiness and the beginning of Christmas for a lot of kids. To be here now to see this is quite remarkable.”
A little past midday, Santa and Mrs. Claus board the Twin Otter.
Families, meanwhile, head home with arms full of gifts and hearts even fuller.
Inside the cabin, the sweet aroma of cookies gifted by an Inuk woman drifts through the air.
While the plane taxis down the runway, a few children wave and cheer one last time: “Santa! Santa!! Santa!”
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