The kids have been back in school for about a week now and the hustle and bustle of the holiday season has finally ended.
But for one local resident, he’s using this time to reflect on the past 30 plus years he’s spent working a very important role.
His name is Murray Sweet- but most of St. Thomas knows him simply as Santa.
Sweet has spent over 15 Christmases at the Elgin Centre, formally the Elgin Mall- making sure the kids of our community get to experience the magic of the holiday season.
myFM had the honour of speaking with Sweet, who shared that this passion of his first began in Edmonton, Alberta. It’s also where he learned a rather important lesson as Santa.
That was until the unfortunate loss of his wife says Sweet, as one of her wishes was to see his clean-shaven face one last time.
And he planned to keep that commitment. But with his 85th birthday coming this July, Sweet notes that being Santa started to become difficult.
That’s what it has always been about stressed Sweet- the children. So with them in mind, he decided to officially hang up his Santa hat following Christmas 2023.
And while this was his last year donning the festive red suit, Sweet says it was always the kids that kept him coming back.
The news of his retirement was a hard one for residents to take. Multiple treads in the popular social media group ‘St. Thomas Happenings’, were filled with kind words, well wishes and touching stories about Sweet’s impact on our community.
He notes it was always so great to hear these memories and help create new ones for the next generation.
One of Sweet’s favourite stories to tell is about an interaction he had with a young girl. Surprisingly enough, he wasn’t even dressed as Santa at the time.
And as far as the legacy he hopes to leave behind, Sweet had this to say.
He adds that he is so thankful for the support from this great city he gets to call home.
Sweet plans to get out and about more now and even hopes to visit the very place that brought him so much joy come Christmas time.
On behalf of the community of St. Thomas and Elgin County, thank you for the countless memories and smiles you’ve created over the years.
Wishing you nothing but the best in your retirement Murray.
Written by: K. Freeman
