‘Twas months before Christmas and things are going pretty much as usual, except Ted Rodd is already sporting the beginnings of a bushy white beard.

By day he’s the sales manager at Davenport Subaru of Orillia, but by Christmas Eve (and several preceding weekends), he’s Santa Claus to hundreds of believers.

For almost 15 years, Rodd has been delighting holiday audiences young and old at corporate parties and charity events. He first got involved in answer to a request, but to look at him dressed in red, the avocation seems pre-destined.

“I obviously have grey hair and a grey beard,” he shrugs, recalling the astonished looks on children’s faces as they tug on the beard that won’t come off. “I’m also a little plump and have a jovial attitude.”

But it’s the twinkle in his eye that resonates as he recounts the repeated visits of a particular little boy who attends the gathering at the Couchiching Jubiliee House women and children’s shelter every year.

“He put his arms around my neck and said ‘I love you Santa, don’t let me go,’” Rodd says. “It was so special. They’re all special, but some stand out.”

He is quick to point out that he receives much more than he gives.

“There’s nothing like seeing the bright eyes of kids,” he says wistfully. “They’re very happy, innocent, peaceful. It’s very rewarding.”

Close to his heart, Jubilee House gets first crack at his annual Santa schedule, but other charity functions find their way in as well. Rodd’s been seen in the Coldwater parade and at the Subaru party, but as a hard-working Santa, he can’t spare the time to be a mall regular. But after-hours private, corporate and association functions, for which he asks a fee, are included by request if there’s time.

“Last year was pretty hectic,” he says, trying to fit in as many visits as possible in the few festive weekends leading up to the big event. “I’m healthy and able to do it. You do what you can.”

What he did one year was visit a few excited children and their families at their annual party on Christmas Eve. The grandfather who usually read The Night Before Christmas to the group had, unfortunately, passed away during the year and had left a big hole at the family get-together.

Rodd’s alter ego stepped in for a memorable transitional performance.

“The whole family was there, all the brothers and sisters. With the kids there must have been 20 people,” he relates. “Adults have just as much fun – especially when they see their kids. They get caught up in it very early.”

At another Christmas Eve visit, he entered the home of two Coldwater children just as their parents were putting them to bed. With antique sleigh bells jingling (he borrows them every year from a friend), he crept not-quite-silently to the tree. Hearing him, the youngsters snuck out to the balcony above and peered in awe through the railing.

After delivering presents and nibbling on the treats left out for him (all the while delivering an ongoing Santa-esque monologue which elicited a hushed “Mommy, Santa knows my nickname!” by little Livy), he “caught” them watching and offered to read them the famed seasonal tale.

“‘Now you kiddies get to bed and I’ll see you next year,’ I said when I was done and Ho Ho Ho’d as I walked out the front door,” says Rodd.

Although it does cost an increasing amount in gas to attend these performances, in addition to cleaning the suit which is regularly subjected to candy-coated hands, coughing fits and moist deposits from babies, Rodd donates all monies gathered from his engagements to charity.

In 2007, he gave more than $1,000 to the I Believe Car Magnet Campaign supporting the Simcoe-Muskoka Cancer Care Centre.

“Money’s nice, but that’s not why you do it,” he says. “There’s always somebody else less fortunate and we can’t forget them.”

Besides, Christmas has become too commercialized anyway, he adds.

“When they’re sitting on Santa’s lap, they don’t care if it’s a $25,000 gift or a $2,500 present or a $2 candy cane,” he explains. “Christmas is about family and being thankful. It’s about making memories. It’s about love.”

And to all a good night.

To contact Santa, call 705-323-6465.