by Julia, age 8, asks Santa Claus why do you have so many different names around the world?, about Lake Ontario, and Canada’s two official languages
Dear Santa Claus,
My name is Julia and I am 8 years old. I live in Toronto, Canada, where my whole family bundles up for the Santa Claus Parade downtown, and my dad says it has been happening since before my grandpa was born.
First, why do you have so many different names around the world?
Second, a geography question: what lake is Toronto built along?
Third, a school question about my country: why does Canada have both English and French as official languages?
I left you a Nanaimo bar and cocoa.
Love, Julia, age 8, Toronto, Canada, Toronto, Canada
From the Desk of Santa Claus
Dear Julia, thank you for the treat, it was wonderful. Now, your questions.
Why do you have so many different names around the world?
Different cultures and languages each shaped their own version of the same idea over centuries, and I have grown rather fond of every single name.
What lake is Toronto built along?
Toronto sits right along Lake Ontario, one of the five Great Lakes, and its skyline lit up along the frozen shoreline on a clear December night makes for a beautiful, glittering approach by sleigh.
Why does Canada have both English and French as official languages?
Canada’s history includes both British and French settlement and governance, and to reflect that shared heritage, the country adopted both English and French as official languages in 1969. Today both languages appear on packaging, government documents, and signs right across the country.
Merry Christmas, Julia.
Ho ho ho, Santa Claus
