Beyond the shopping mall and holiday party: New ways to meet Santa

Calgary’s Santa School teaches aspiring Kris Kringles to look the part and stay in character. New graduates are being deployed for shopping malls and corporate holiday parties.

Here’s a look at some of the new tricks available to celebrate the festive season:

Santa by appointment: For a cool $99, plus tax, families can skip the lines — and potentially some tantrums — by booking “a personalized visit with Santa in a festive, intimate setting” at the West Edmonton Mall. Photos and admissions to four mini attractions at the massive mall are also included.

Santa by smartphone: The iTunes store has several apps to set up phone calls and even video chats with Santa. Some tout their effectiveness as a disciplinary tool. “The perfect tool for parents to encourage good behaviour all year long. Report naughty children using Santa’s Automated Voicemail System,” reads the description for “A Call From Santa!”