THUNDER BAY — Feedback such as 'Oh, you made my child's day' is all the reward the Westfort Santa needs for riding his Christmas-decorated bike through the neighbourhood.
He's been doing it for about 18 years, but prefers to stay anonymous.
Last year his adult tricycle was stolen, but supporters got together to buy him a new bike.
He began the festive celebration wearing a Santa Claus beard and hat.
When someone suggested he needed a reindeer, he added that to the front of his trike before getting a full Santa suit and a wagon to tow.
There have been variations over the years, partly due to wear and tear.
"Kids love it. I go by a school, and they run to the fences if they're outside. It's really nice to see. Sometimes the teachers will have their phones and they'll take pictures," he said.
He usually starts riding the Christmas bike at the beginning of December and continues until Christmas Eve.
"I don't have a set routine. I bike wherever, depending on the weather," he said.
Besides getting a charge out of people's reactions, it gives him a chance to exercise.
"It's just fun all around," he said during an interview Wednesday as passing motorists honked and waved.
A neighbour described how Westfort's Santa brings holiday cheer and smiles to both young and old, saying "He goes out in extreme cold simply to make people smile."
