Rankin Inlet (Jan 12/05) - Old Saint Nicholas was impressed enough by Kivalliq Air's annual Christmas campaign that he took the airplane up on its offer to visit the Kivalliq for a second time this past month.

SUBHEAD: Jolly Old Elf visits Kivalliq hamlets on Santa Express CUTLINE #1 (list slug of photo): 1201cof2 BYLINE: by TEXT:

Santa Claus took time away from his hectic schedule at the North Pole to board the special Santa Express airplane and visit every Kivalliq community on a whirlwind one-day tour.

The Santa Express loaded up with holiday toys and donations in Winnipeg before heading to the Kivalliq on Dec. 16.

Santa delivered the gifts to the hamlet office of each community for distribution.

The public was invited to meet Santa at the airport during each of his stops, where he gave out candy canes.

Every year, Kivalliq Air hosts a holiday campaign to acquire gifts and donations for Northern communities.

Donations include much needed clothing and medical equipment, as well as toys, hockey equipment and gifts collected by Kivalliq staff, friends, family and long-time supporters such as the Health Sciences Centre.

In 2004, the Children's Hospital and several Winnipeg businesses came on board to support the program.

Kivalliq Air's chief executive officer Bob May said the airline wanted to do something special to share the joy of the holidays, specifically with the communities it serves on a year-round basis.

"We are very grateful to these organizations," says May.

"They are well aware these families can really use our help.

"Their support, on both a grassroots and corporate level, has been tremendous."

Katrina Rankine is the airline's manager of Kivalliq operations.

Rankine had the special honour of being Santa's helper on this year's trek across the region. "I must say, it was a wonderful experience to see all the smiling faces and happy children," said Rankine. "I was not aware that a lot of children in some of the communities had never seen Santa before.

"The amount of donations we received from individuals was also amazing.

"It was heartwarming to know so many people care."