Each year, Santa Claus manages to simultaneously stop through most shopping malls, community centres 鈥� and even the odd holiday party 鈥� giving kids a little one-on-one time to share their biggest wants and needs for under the Christmas tree.

This year, Black Press Media sat down with the jolly ol鈥� man himself at Willowbrook Shopping Centre in Langley where about 10,000 kids take a seat on his lap each season. There, he shared some of the highlights of his job as the big man in red.

And although he can鈥檛 always promise the 40 iPads or Lamborghini at the top of kids鈥� lists, he does ensure each child leaves feeling excited about the real meaning of the holidays.

鈥淚f I had all the money in the world I couldn鈥檛 fill every child鈥檚 dream, but every child that comes to meet me gets a little bit of Christmas spirit,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 look them straight in the eye, and children do not lie to you.鈥�