KAMSACK — A green paragon of good who was once an anti-joy malefactor is coming to Kamsack to support a local ski hill.
The Grinch will be at the building next to the IDA Rx Drug Mart on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Local children will be able to get their photo taken with the green creature, in exchange for a donation, which will go towards the Duck Mountain Ski Area.
“I just know there’s lots of kids that are around here and I figured I’d spread some Grinch joy,” said the Grinch.
As documented by children’s author Theodor Geisel – better known as Dr. Seuss – in the 1950s, the Grinch was a cranky, solitary creature that stole Christmas presents from the nearby town of Whoville in order to stop the sounds of celebration that bothered him annually on Christmas Day. Yet when the residents rejoiced and sang Christmas carols instead of despairing for their lost presents, the Grinch realized that Christmas meant a little bit more and decided to help promote the holiday.
IDA manager Joe Levesque will be representing the Grinch at the event, dressing up as the character.
“I like dressing up and I love kids – I got five grandkids of my own – and I just like to make Christmas a bit extra special,” he said when asked why he’s organizing the event.
“I figured the Grinch is a big thing now, so I bought a costume online.”
Levesque said he and some friends are working to make the location look like a wintery Whoville.
Photos will be taken on a first-come, first serve basis, and will be transferred through email.
Levesque said after looking at a bunch of local causes to support with the event, he decided to support the Duck Mountain Ski Area.
“We know that it needs all the help we can get, and we’re all about community, so we want to try and do our best to help out,” he said. “Not every place has a ski hill.”
According to the Ski Saskatchewan website, Duck Mountain is one of seven ski hills in Saskatchewan.
Levesque said if the event is successful this year, he hopes to expand it in the future.
“I’m going to do my best to impersonate the Grinch and make it authentic as possible, so that the kids love it.”
