Meeting Santa in 2020 may look a little different than years past, but Victoria-born Jenna Kuzemski is helping keep the Christmas magic alive.
“We were just bummed because a lot of kids really really love their Santa experience every year and just talking it through you know we have the skills we know the people,” says Kuzemski.
Working out of her condo in Vancouver, the event and marketing specialist, along with her friend and business partner Sarah Shandl, recently launched Virtual Santa Canada — a way to meet Santa online from a safe distance.
St. Nick’s calendar has quickly filled up, but Shandl and Kuzemski did keep a few special time slots open for a good cause.
“We wanted to make sure we could give back as well,” says Kuzemski.
So they reached out to the Make-A-Wish foundation, and with many wishes unfulfilled this year due to COVID-19, they offered complimentary visits with Santa.
One of the guests was Duncan’s own Charlotte Cathro, who’s spent much of her childhood in hospital.
“When she was just under three, she was diagnosed with Leukemia,” says Charlotte’s mum Jayne Hardy-Cathro.
After years of treatment, the 6-year-old is doing much better now and along with her mother and siblings Hudson and Evelyn, the family had a Zoom call to remember.
“Their Santa was amazing and his laugh had my kids all giggling,” says Kuzemski.
The ten-minute visit included storytime, a virtual photo, and of course a look at the Christmas wish lists.
“All three of our kids especially Charlotte loved it,” exclaims Hardy-Cathro. “It really brought the magic into our home we’ve not been participating in a lot of activities obviously due to the pandemic and so this was great for the kids,” adds Hardy Cathro.
For Kuzemski the smiles have made all the work worth it.
“It’s just generated a lot of smiles and joy and it’s been really rewarding,” says Kuzemski.
Victoria-born Jenna Kuzemski, above, an event and marketing specialist in Vancouver, and her friend and business partner, Sarah Shandl, recently launched Virtual Santa Canada — a way to meet Santa online from a safe distance. (CHEK News)
Cole Sorenson
