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- WATERLOO CHRONICLE - Thursday, December 26, 2013 - ii _ - Putting a bow on it ' , o o ‘0 0 One of Santa s longtime helpers get the surprise of hlS llfe â€" BY [was JACKSON . _, . _ _ “-0 m... “Mir ‘ . “I Emu/7M attitre Waterloo NewYear’s Eve : i O ' O veryone knows Christmas is the g,“ ' ’ y y. fm‘y CClebl‘atlon busiest time of the year for Santa , ' ‘~ Claus as he spends his days and ’ Dec. 31 at the square ' t akin h" l‘ t nd ch ckin it 35:; Trying I]; :83” my: whgo's The City of Waterloo's annual New Year's Eve naughty or nice "' Family Celebration is Dec. 31, 6 pm. to 10 pm. at For that reason, Santa employs help ‘ the Waterloo PM)!“ square. ‘ ‘ . from some kind-hearted folks who ,7 .‘b ’0'" US for {1 night {0 remember. 5‘9“? the night spend the weeks leading up to Christ- "" ‘ - away ‘0 today 5 I0P “"5 as the Rink m the Square mas channeling the spirit of the holi- 311938: 31:0 the hottest all-ages skating dance da becomin Santa Claus. U m 0 - YR? o thfn 30 ears one of the Kids of all ages can enjoy free activities with m re . y ' Mad Science free hot chocolate from Tim Hortons ‘ best-known Santa s locally has been . . .' . lim Bowman. and his passion for the .- 3nd at??? (ginger alelqmamP‘fgle ‘08-“ as ‘79 CE“? Christmas season is unparalleled In rate €"9W year dl- P-m- WI aspectacuar "3' Waterloo Region. -.- works dismay ‘ . . “Santa is the gift of Christmas, and “"3 For . more information “"3” Santa Claus brings joy. happiness. "S tracy.suench@waterloo.ta. laughter and brings people back to .;‘_’ 1.. their childhood.” said Bowman of why ’ _ ”is: wonders OfWintel’ ' he dons the red suit and white beard " ‘ I every year “It allows them to enjoy the Jim Bowman, channeling his inner Saint Nick, is joined hymhelpers in the main wraps up Dec. 3 1 true spirit of(1hn'stmas, which is giving foyer of city hall last week. Bowman has spent the past ”years bringing Santa to The 20th annual Wonders ofWinter festival of and losing each other and losing your life and was recognized with a fundraiser called Bowman's Bows. ““3““ ”0'0 lights ends Dec 31 at Waterloo Park ‘ famvkliltanta Bowman gets to see the placeable be pinned ‘ ln includes refreshments for sale near the PM“ ‘ host the holiday season has to offer ”it blows them out of [ht' water." he “I was speechless." he said when the . Innfigiflflseggglalfléfiz‘ggazfstgsgxgji through the glimmer in a (‘hlld\ our laughed. elevator doors opened and the city‘s ' For \more information L "M” ‘ when he first walks in the door With his Recently, the city 74 led by Bill staff were all waiting for him "i was www wondersofwinter ca ‘ tonal “Ho ho hOY' (idrll)aldl, deputy t‘ommissioner of totally overwhelmed, very appreciative ‘ ’ ‘ ‘ He's been to preschools, hospitals integrated planning and public works and very humbled." and PW” adult (:htl‘ilmifl parties I" wanted to find a way to recognize all Halloran just laughed as she Mayor NeWYear’s levee ‘ \dint Nick and accepts no payment for of Bowman‘s hard work and dedication recounted the lib she told Bowman to . his time as Santa. to the holiday season get him downstairs from his tliird~floor ‘ set for Ian' 12 ‘ The tradition til Santa started Wlit'll lhey decided upon a fundraiser. offici- Waterloo Mayor Brenda Halloran and Waterloo - Bowman was very young and a iditlllV dubbed Bowman's Bows. that stiw "I told him we had a really higproh i (‘in council invites the public to the annual New 1 friend would Visit his home men downs of whllt‘ bows with Santa's fate lem With one of our funders so It was Year's Levee Jan. 12‘ “:30 am. to 2 pm, at RIM (.hristmas as Nauru Bowman has on them hand made by staff and put believable." she said. “He was totally park's Manuln'e Financial Sportsplex. worked for more than three (it‘t’ailt‘s to up for sale for $5 each. immersed in how he'll solve this prob ‘ Welcome the new year in with the Mayor Hallo ‘ i ontinue that tradition in this the fundraiser ended last l‘hursday lem and the doors opened and I said ran and my councillors and with! fr”. family ecu-v ‘ tommunity and raised about $550 for the ll’l‘l‘ of ‘this is for you"and he started to cry." . rues. ' ' [he (lirertor of tonimunm st'n'tt i-s \ngt-ls campaign. which roller is toys The city also gave Bowman a per ‘ The Happy Space (Ilowns will be on hand m in thr- (.ity ofWaterloo own attends thi' .md money to pros-idi- less fortunate «inalimd licence plate in honour of his provide balloon animals and facepainting. mm . lllV s tihnstmas party as Santa and gt'ts t hildren in the region With a gift to years of being Santa in Waterloo that entertainment provided by Eric l‘raplm and Youth ‘ littli- tidbits of information from staff unwrap on (.hristmas day Bowman‘s said "Santaloo." in Error. ‘ on t-ath child before they sit on his lap. as year old father has been a devoted Bowman has many countless meni . l‘here will also be "W food and refreshments. then uses the information only their mlunteer With the campaign sint e ones over the years. One that stands ‘ while “mph“ last ‘ ””8”" would “my" to further “m "N2 ”l” in h" mind was "he" a young man i A free (.rand River lransit shuttli- Will run from ‘ not (‘ them he's thi- real deal in kirk off Bowman's flows in asked his girlfriend to marry him while l tonestoga Mall m "”1;di in mam,” m on Sm. ltitlpit‘ that with the actual letters November Mayor Brenda Halloran they were both sitting on his knee parking 1 the" llldllt'ti to Santa. whit h he pulls on ked Bowman into meeting her in Bowman had the ring in his pocket. 1 for more infurmamm (all r,” 38’» “"7‘»’, m “8” out of his pot‘kt‘l whilt- they're on his the ntdln favor of ( ity ball by the city's “There are all kinds of stories.“ he wm'waterloora, ‘ In” and tht‘ look on ”’10” far i- Is irrt- t hostmas tru'. wilt‘rl‘ thr- bows were to said “It's all pan ofthe magic." l ‘ , . We .,. W W ,l “ ’ We re just around the it . 1 any, New Year! - ‘ , l .‘r‘ . hmmmmbuwu 4; f M’le'flllmu ultimatum-rm . - midfipacundm 8"“ ‘m ’ " " Im- r lane 0 * = new ‘ - “but-“ . “PC . - y n ‘ moan-mo ’ v . a“ l .. ~. _- All” -. 09.er. yumg‘.‘ . 0 3 a... m