North Pole (Dec 22/03) - Santa Claus is busy these days -- checking his lists and all.

So, Santa counts on Canada Post to deliver all those letters from little boys and girls with their Christmas wishes.

Marilyn Taylor of the Hay River post office helps make sure Santa Claus gets all letters mailed to him from little boys and girls. - Paul Bickford/NNSL photo

Each year, the post office receives over a half-million letters bound for the North Pole.

In Hay River, Santa's helpers include Marilyn Taylor, who makes sure letters from local children get to Santa.

Lots of letters

So far this year, the Hay River post office has received 212 letters addressed to Santa Claus.

"Lots of kids want CD players and GameBoy and electronic toys," Marilyn says. "That's the big thing."

However, Santa also gets some unusual requests.

One letter asked for a baby brother..

Marilyn once saw a letter from a little boy in Fort Providence containing 10 dimes for Santa. The dimes were returned.

"Santa doesn't need money," she explains.

Other letters sometime contain phone numbers and photos.

The post office has a large red mail bag especially designated for letters to Santa Claus.

Canada Post has been delivering letters to Santa Claus for 21 years.

Taylor says all letters should be mailed by today so Santa has time to write back.