Preparations are underway at 22 Wing CFB North Bay, home of the Canadian Air Defence Sector, for a big mission coming up on December 24th.

Charlie Flight Commander Major Kathleen Leaton says they’re getting ready to continue the NORAD tradition of tracking Santa on his Christmas Eve journey across Canada.

“We’ll launch fighters out of their base and make sure Santa is correctly intercept, visually identified and then we’ll provide an escort as he’s in Canada,” she says.

“It’s similar to our standard 24/7, 365 days a year mission,” Major Leaton adds.“Slightly different training, but at the same time we’re working to keep Santa and Canada safe.”

She says one way kids will be able to follow Santa’s journey on Christmas Eve is at noradsanta.org, which launched December 1st.

“There’s a lot of activities and games at the North Pole that they can see and there are links to the various social media feeds for NORAD Tracks Santa,” Major Leaton says.

There’s also a holiday countdown and more.

This is the 62nd year NORAD has been involved in tracking Santa.

On top of tracking Santa through the website on Christmas Eve, children can call 1-877-Hi-NORAD.

Locally, the number to call (on Christmas Eve) is 705-494-2011 extension 6729.

 

Photo credit: Corporal Adam Royer
(left to right) Corporal Gabriel Chartier, Staff Sergeant Patrick Bisigni (United States Air Force) and Major Kathleen Leaton, Charlie Flight Commander, are the Santa Trackers on Charlie Flight at 22 Wing/Canadian Forces Base North Bay, home of the Canadian Air Defence Sector.

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