About Santa Dave
About Me
Santa Dave (David Coutts) is a proud and devoted father of 5 grownup children and a playful and caring Poppa of 6.
Always youthful in his heart, he spent over 30 years as a Scout leader and soccer coach working with children and teens. His warmth, compassion, and patience puts any child at ease and his experience with children of all abilities ensures an inclusive and memorable experience for all.
Santa Dave works hard throughout the year to keep his full white beard healthy and shiny. He works even harder to maintain his cheerful figure ;). With a twinkle in his eye, real beard, and kind heart, Santa Dave can make anyone believe in the magic of Christmas.
Training & Experience
To work professionally as a Santa helper, representing the ‘Big Guy in Red’, Santa Dave believes that training is important, and it is training that helps make one a professional, not whether one is paid to perform a task. Santa’s belief is always to “do your best”, as by the Scouting standard that cub scouts learn, DYB. Time alone does not accomplish this. You can be bad forever.
- Santa Dave volunteered with Scouts Canada in his many different roles, working at every youth leader level and also in volunteer administration roles from the local group up to District executive, for over more than 30 years. Santa Dave always invested in whatever training was appropriate to the level he currently worked at, and for supporting the training of leaders. He became a Scouts Canada Volunteer adult trainer as well as a child abuse prevention trainer, providing training to other leaders.
- When he volunteered in Soccer as an association exec, a Coach and a Referee he followed the same rule, get trained.
- He was used to that over 45 years, and counting, in his profession as a Public Accountant He still counts, in fact!
- Santa Dave is a member of various Santa resource and training groups such as IBRBS (International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas) and is a graduate of Pro Santa School and Northern Lights Santa Academy.
- Santa Dave has an up to date Vulnerable Sector Check by the Hamilton Police Service available on request.
So in choosing a Santa, one should not just look at whether they have invested in a perfect suit, but more importantly whether they seek out training, and learning from other Santa’s. Santa Dave thinks he owes his clients that!
A really great trained Santa brings more magic in a cheap suit than one who throws money into his look but not into developing his knowledge. Remember years dies not necessarily equate to professionalism.
International Brotherhood of Real Bearded Santas Member
Northern Lights Santa Academy
Pro Santa School Advanced Certificate
Vulnerable Sector Check by Hamilton Police Service