Santa Jake a Christmas star in Steinbach

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This article was published 26/12/2023 (572 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

With a twinkle in his eye and a cheerful smile, Jake Dueck shares his story of being Santa Claus every year for the past 13 years.

“I enjoy it. It puts you in the Christmas spirit. It gets you in the mood, the gifts, the Christmas trees – all of that,” he said.

Seeing an ad in The Carillon to work at Clearspring Centre as its Santa all those years ago seemed serendipitous.

“It was a natural fit. It came very naturally (having the beard and being Santa)…It adds to the Christmas spirit. You see the kids faces and interact with them and let them get excited about the time of year. Why do I do it? It’s such a natural fit. The beard fits. They say the face is good. When you get old you get some laugh lines and that fits with that. I’m having a really good time with it.”

Dueck is a retired massage therapist who lives on a horse ranch in Rosengard. And while Santa may have eight tiny reindeer, Dueck has eight strong horses.

“We have community events at our place. They’re designed to just bring the community together. So I guess, we’ve always been entertainers…In September, we have a small amateur rodeo at our house with activities for all ages from petting zoos to pony rides to barrel trains, inflatable bouncers, and we have a big supper at our house, we have a live band with a dance and fireworks. It’s a huge undertaking. We’ve done this for 19 years now. We’re looking to celebrate 20 next year. Everybody is welcome.”

Dueck said the event is so popular that people come as far away as Kenora. In the winter, Dueck and his wife host a winter fun day with hot dogs, fire pits, and marshmallows. There is also two miles of trails in the bush that people can walk or take a horse and wagon ride.

“We do a small (fun day) in the spring and…an amateur horse show picnic on horseback. It used to be very popular for us when I was growing up, we’re just keeping that tradition alive,” he said.

What Dueck likes best about being Santa is “having fun with the kids.”

“Kids have a simpler way of life. They’re not so serious or stressed at Christmas. They are just excited and looking forward to (Christmas). They’re simple to please. Very easy to please.”

What Dueck likes least about being Santa is the time it takes away from him spending it with his friends. “I miss my friends at the coffee shop. I’m a storyteller and coffee shop guy. We solve all the current problems of the world every morning. It’s an ongoing thing. Everyone brings a few problems to the table and by the time we leave we’ve got solutions to all of them.”

One of the toughest aspects of being Santa is sometimes people tell Dueck their sad stories, which tend to stick with him. He shared there was a middle-aged man whose wife was dying of cancer and it was probably going to be their last Christmas together and the man wanted to make it memorable. So, he and Dueck sat down and they talked for a while.

“People don’t think about the sad side of it,” he said. “Everything is happy and jolly and festive. And like I said that is the good, fun time to be, but there are people in the background. It’s the time of year when people are stressed about finances or family or whatever it might be.”

But what makes Santa so popular is the representation of a childhood of joy, wishes, and dreams yet to be fulfilled, so it takes a special type of person to play the jolly fellow and Dueck is very popular among parents and children.

“I don’t notice me being that popular. I notice some people talk about it when they come to visit me at the mall. They specifically want to see me and I’m not sure why. I don’t know the other Santa that well so I don’t have a comparison. I think my biggest draw might be I talk a lot. I interact well with the kids. I’m willing to do any pose they ask. I’ll be on the floor; I’ll be on my head. But we’ll get a photo,” he said with a smile.

So what does he talk about with the kids? Dueck said he asks them lots of questions such as what’s going on in school, their interests, what gifts they’re expecting.

“I question them a lot. It’s an interrogation. I should be a news reporter,” he said jokingly.

“My philosophy is if I have 10 minutes, I can make any child into a friend and most of the time that holds true. There are a lot of them that are intimidated, but you develop a few techniques that help them get over it and surprise them with a hug or something and then we’re all good all of a sudden. Finding the formula that works for different children. A bit of psychology, I guess.”

All of Dueck’s grandchildren come to see him as Santa Claus at least once every year. This year he is starting a new tradition where he’ll get his grandchildren to shave his beard on Christmas Eve. And the way Santa keeps his beard so white is with puppy shampoo.

“Because you have white poodles or Bichon (Frisé) that use brightening and whitening shampoo for them, works awesome in the beard. Very safe. It’s safer than human shampoo. And it’s awesome.”

Aside from keeping his beard trimmed and bright white, Santa also likes to get manicures and pedicures.

His wife of 50 years, Margaret, said she loves what he does.

“I love it. Cause it brings everybody together and everybody is having fun and I don’t mind.”

Dueck wants people to not forget about Christ in Christmas and that He’s “the reason for the season and don’t take him out of Christmas. I posted something on WhatsApp on my status yesterday where I say it’s not about the gifts under the tree it’s who’s all around the tree to share it with. It’s fun, food, and fellowship. I see the three Fs in Christmas. That’s what I look forward to at Christmas.”

Margaret said the family doesn’t hand out gifts rather they spend the time together playing games and socializing.

“That’s the spirit of Christmas. The fun part,” said Dueck.

And as the interview drew to a close, Santa had parting words for readers.

“Stay safe, enjoy family, and appreciate family. Don’t eat too much. Leave some for Santa. I’m trying to work on my figure!”