The Magic of Christmas brings the spirit and cheer of Christmas into many homes that lack the emotional and/or financial resources to do so themselves. Every Christmas Eve we fill Calgary Transit buses with Santas and Elves who bring support, cheer and gifts to those in need. Our reindeer also make a special route to many of Calgary's hospitals, nursing homes and shelters. This is made possible through the community and corporate partners who support our operations.

There are many reasons why a family may be in need of our services: financial concerns, recent illness or death of a loved one, recent job loss and other major family crisis’. In 2011, the Magic of Christmas visited over 350 families in Calgary and surrounding area, each with a different story to tell; but we're not stopping there.  Refer someone for Santa's route

Our History

Every Christmas Eve, Santa and his elves visit people in need at home, in shelters, in hospitals and in other institutions to bring the hope and joy of the season. There are many reasons why a family needs a special lift at Christmas - finances, recent illness or death, family violence, recent job loss or any other major crisis.

The Magic of Christmas brings laughter, songs, hugs, as well as, gifts, necessities and referrals to other support groups in our community.  We work with City of Calgary social services and the Calgary Police Service to make sure Santa doesn't miss anyone who needs a special visit.

The story of Bob Johnson, Founder

In 1983, Bob Johnson began The Spirit of Christmas, a charity designed to fight the despair that can be found even during the most joyous time of the year - Christmas.  The Spirit of Christmas was built on the motto of "Loving, Caring and Sharing," which remains the organizations motto today. Bob believed in Christmas beyond material goods, he believed in the spirit that Christmas brought. These are action words and Bob's ideas always generated plenty of action and in doing something about it.

The Magic of Christmas is 100 per cent volunteer, non-denominational and charitable. We were founded by Bob Johnson, whose wife was hospitalized with a serious illness just before Christmas, leaving Bob and his two daughters home alone on Christmas Eve. Bob wanted to give his daughters something positive to think about on Christmas Eve - so he rounded-up a Santa suit, a couple of small gifts and he took his girls to cheer up a troubled family, whose son and daughter were battling prostitution and drugs. Seeing the tremendous joy he brought to this family, Bob went looking for other families who could use a visit from “Santa” to brighten up their Christmas Eve.

From this humble beginning over 20 years ago, the Magic of Christmas has grown to a volunteer family of 300 elves and Santa’s, using nine donated Calgary Transit buses to serve close to 300 families and 3,000 people in hospitals and other institutions.