It’s just not Christmas without a visit with Santa and his alter ego, Ray Porter

Every week, I will be profiling an extraordinary human being who lives in our community. If you know someone who is doing something interesting with their life, I want to hear about it. Send me an email at [email protected].

It’s a bit of a Christmas miracle.

After suffering a serious stroke in October, Huntsville’s very own Santa Claus, better known as Ray Porter, is slowly making a comeback. He has a long road to recovery ahead of him. And here’s hoping his strong will and determination help him overcome the challenges he has to face.

He’s currently at Huntsville District Memorial Hospital, but is waiting to be transferred to North Bay where he will begin rehabilitation for physical and speech therapy.

Last week, I had the chance to sit down with Ray and his wife Bev, along with Grant Nickalls, Ray’s close friend who has spent a great deal of time with him having been his neighbour since he was a boy. To Grant, Ray was like a second dad. He gave him advice and taught him life lessons.

Ray was sitting in his wheelchair when I got there, with Bev and Grant by his side to tell me some pretty amazing stories about the kind and gentle man who is being sent well wishes from the hundreds of people who know him. His missed appearances as the big man in red are not going unnoticed.

Being the gentleman that he is, Ray shook my hand and offered me a friendly “hello.” He can’t say much. The stroke has affected his speech. But at times, he nods his head in approval to let us know that, yes, that’s how the story goes.

Mere minutes into our conversation, things started to get emotional. Bev tells me there’s a big piece missing at home right now. Ray, with his infectious Christmas spirit, is always the one who gets right into the swing of the merry season by putting up the lights and decorating the tree. Because he’s been in the hospital for the last two months, home just isn’t the same this Christmas.

A sure sign of his determination to recover, Ray used his feet to help Grant wheel him over to a Christmas tree in the hospital to have his picture taken.

Bev tells me from the moment she laid eyes on Ray how she was “taken aback.”

“He was certainly different from most. We’ve been married 54 years and we’re still talking. I think that says something.”

Up until his stroke, Ray could be seen every day on Brunel Road as the crossing guard for the high school students. There’s been an outpouring of prayers and well wishes sent his way – no doubt the high school students are missing him, too.

Ray was born in Cape Breton in 1939 and later moved to Huntsville from Toronto. He has been well-known and respected in the community since he started working as a constable for the community police force in the late 1960s before it became the OPP. Still wanting to be able to make a difference in Huntsville, he later became a bylaw officer, a job he maintained for more than 30 years. He loves this town and being a part of it.

His volunteer work was also something Ray was passionate about. He originally started out as one of Santa’s helpers at the old Eaton’s store on Main Street where Pharmasave is now. Ray later took it upon himself, for the love of Christmas and the kids, to volunteer to be Santa at all the area school events, at the Legion, at the hospital and various nursing homes, as well as private parties and other social functions. He was Santa in the annual Santa Claus Parade – something he looked forward to every single year.

Ray Porter has been the Santa Claus riding high in the sleigh in the annual parade for decades. (Submitted photo.)

He found great satisfaction in bringing joy to others

Ray was a devoted volunteer to many local organizations, including the Huntsville Shriners Club and the Order of the Eastern Star, a Masonic group. He also spent time doing charity work in hospitals for burn victims and he was a local volunteer firefighter for 19 years. He never did anything for recognition. He simply did it out of the goodness of his heart.

Referring to him as “Uncle P,” Grant shared details of a life spent with Ray and Bev since he was a small boy.

“We were always honoured as family,” said Grant. “He’d always say, ‘I have three girls and a boy.’ Uncle P was the one who came to all my games and watched me play, whether it was lacrosse or hockey. I named my son after him for God’s sake.”

Ray has been a constant in Grant’s life. He recalled a time when his parents were out of town and the Porter’s were watching him when he was caught shoplifting rolls of hockey tape from a store. Ray came to the store and, being a retired police officer, took Grant to the detachment and placed him in a cell.

“He [Ray] said, ‘If you want to continue to steal get used to this feeling. Keep stealing.’ It worked. I haven’t stolen anything since.”

Grant describes Ray as a private person who was big on storytelling, loved history and could recall certain events, especially battles, with an uncanny attention to detail.

Ray’s caring and compassionate attitude toward people makes him stand out from the rest. It wasn’t something Ray had to force either. To him, it comes naturally. He befriended people of all ages. And it isn’t just humans who gravitate toward Ray – dogs love him, too.

Grant had so many wonderful stories to share about Ray and they all paint a vivid image of what makes him so special.

Grant thinks the world of Ray, who has been influential in his life since he was a boy.

Recounting a humourous story of Ray’s willingness to make all things fair, Grant said, “He was big on character and big on doing the right thing. When he was with the town bylaw office, some of the town councillors were complaining that there wasn’t enough revenue generated for parking tickets. So, he ticketed all their cars for parking illegally. He even gave his own wife a parking ticket. He was big on principle.”

As our 45-minute chat wraps up, it’s time for us to take some photos. Ray’s wife respectfully declines. Grant wheels Ray out to the patient lounge room in the hospital. As Ray uses his feet to help steer the wheelchair, it’s evident that he’s making some progress.

When it’s time to say goodbye, I think Ray wants to shake my hand again and I know deep down he wants to stand. But instead I lean down and get a warm kiss on the cheek and a hug. He definitely hasn’t lost his charm. A true gentleman. Everyone is rooting for a speedy recovery for our very own Santa Claus.

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