Santa Claus came early to four communities in northern Saskatchewan on Friday and Saturday.

The reindeer didn’t take this trip, as Santa and his elves travelled from Prince Albert on Friday morning on a Transwest Air plane with gifts for children in Fond Du Lac, Black Lake, Stony Rapids and Wollaston Lake.

Santa avoided going down any chimneys and visited schools in all four communities.

This was the 19th year that Transwest Air has put on their Santa Run in the north.

“It’s very exciting for the students,” Gloria Sutherland, principal at Father Porte Memorial Déné School in Black Lake said. “I’m really thankful that Transwest does this every year. They’re making dreams for children a reality. It’s something that I hope continues.”

Approximately 1500 gifts were given away on this Santa Run including puzzles, Play-Doh and stuffed animals.

Children had the opportunity to get a picture with Santa and tell him what they want for Christmas.

Many kids told Santa that they hoped to see AirPods, L.O.L. dolls and Nerf guns under their Christmas tree this year.

“They really look forward to this,” Santa Run organizer and Transwest Air business development officer Patty Hughes said. “Their expressions on their faces and for them to be able to really see Santa and that one-on-one with him, mean a lot. This is something that’s really important to us at Transwest Air to give back to the communities. It’s really worth it.”

Santa and Transwest Air also sent packages for children in Uranium City.

(Photos by Brendan Mayer.)