Santa visits NORAD Winnipeg for Christmas training

Santa made a short appearance at the Canadian NORAD (North American Aerospace Defence Command) region Thursday morning.

The jolly big man in the red suit was there to get a personal briefing from Combat Operations Division Chief, Lieutenant-Colonel Darrell Marleau on the final preparations for the 2014 NORAD Tracks Santa Operation. 

During the briefing, Lieutenant-Colonel Marleau explained to Santa that "parents and kids can phone in and actually talk to one of Santa's helpers in NORAD and find out where you are at any time and when you are going to be roughly in their area."

Santa responded "excellent, good, because I want them in bed. They've got to be in bed before I come to the house."

A tradition that dates back to 1955, NORAD personnel use radar and satellites to track Santa's location. 

On Christmas Eve, from lift off at the North Pole and as soon as Santa and his sleigh enter North American air space, NORAD personnel relay that information and answer any questions through their website or telephone hotline 1-877-HI-NORAD.

According to NORAD, the Canadian Forces collaborate with the 'North Polish' resident because they are the only organization that has the technology, the qualifications and the people to do it.

"He's one of the most important people in the entire world and the kids everywhere want to make sure that they are not forgotten. Anything that we can do to help keep him safe and on his route and getting all the toys and gifts to the kids is the most important thing we can do." Said Lieutenant-Colonel Marleau.

NORAD explains that Santa's usual route has him starting in the South Pacific, New Zealand and Australia. After which he would fly north to Japan and Asia then across Africa and Western Europe before heading west to Canada and the United States.

Lieutenant-Colonel Marleau explains that once in Canadian air space, "we want to make sure that he slows down because he is travelling at a twinkle of an eye so our fighters can't keep up with him.  So we've asked him to slow down a little bit so all our fighter pilot big kids can get a look at him."

CF-18 pilots take off from Newfoundland to welcome Santa and then various air force bases across the country scramble jets to escort him as he makes his way across the country.

NORAD claims to not know Santa's exact route so they are unable to exactly predict when he will arrive at a particular house.  

Lieutenant-Colonel Marleau had one more special request for the big guy.

"We've got a lot of men and women throughout the world right now who are defending all of our principles and ideals that we have.  And they have left their families to go and do this. So we've asked Santa to remember them especially in his travel throughout the world."