A Santa Claus performer at Sherwood Park Mall in Alberta was swiftly removed from his duties over the weekend following an incident where he slapped a young child's hand after the toddler tugged on his beard.
An Unacceptable Reaction from Saint Nick
The event occurred on Saturday, December 21, 2024, and was captured on video before being removed from social media. The footage showed a toddler sitting on Santa's lap reaching up to briefly pull on the man's very real-looking beard. In response, the Santa, wearing white gloves, first moved the child's hand away and then delivered a light slap to the child's curled fingers, followed by a wagging "no" gesture.
Mall management and the contracted event company, Cherry Hill Programs, acted quickly. Sherwood Park Mall issued a statement calling the Santa's behavior "completely unacceptable." The mall's memo stated, "We offer our sincere apologies to the little boy and his family. The individual involved in this situation has been removed from our program and will not return."
Mall Responds, Ensures a "Magical Christmas"
The mall emphasized its commitment to a positive holiday experience. "Ensuring that each child has a Magical Christmas experience is of the utmost importance to us," the statement read. Santa visits were paused only briefly on Saturday to facilitate the transition to a new performer.
Sherwood Park Mall clarified that it contracts with Cherry Hill, an international event and photography company, to provide vetted Santa services. The swift termination of the performer underscores the zero-tolerance policy for such interactions.
Parental Concerns and a Positive Resolution
Local mother Jamie Wells, who cherishes the annual Santa visit tradition with her family, expressed initial concern upon hearing the news in a social media group. "Santa is part of our Christmas because it gives the kids something to look forward to beyond presents," Wells said. "It's the magic, imagination, and joy it brings... I hope they forget it." She added that she hoped the Santa in question would leave the "Claus business" to those with more patience.
Despite her nervousness, Wells took her five-year-old to see the replacement Santa on Sunday, December 22. She reported a long line of families waiting for both reservations and walk-ups, indicating the incident had not deterred the community's holiday spirit.
"Thankfully, the replacement Santa was great," Wells said after the visit. "He looked and acted professional. His beard kept trying to fall down but he stayed on top of it." Her experience suggests the mall successfully restored the festive atmosphere, ensuring a joyful and respectful holiday experience for all visitors following the unfortunate event.
