It’s all about representation. That’s what’s at the heart of an upcoming community event this weekend in East York.

On Saturday, Dec. 7, from 1 to 4 p.m., Black Santa will be making a stop at Old’s Cool General Store, 250 Westlake Ave. All are welcome to come and meet and greet the diverse Man in Red.

“I haven’t seen anything like this in Toronto” said Zahra Dhanani, who co-owns the local shop/community hub with her partner Mariko Nguyen-Dhanani.

“You need representation. It matters. No matter what anyone says. I know so many people just assume Santa should be white, but why can’t Santa be Black or trans. Santa can be a bloody unicorn if he wants!”

Dhanani, who was born in Tanzania and is of South Asian descent, never saw a Santa that looked like her when she was a kid. When a group of moms from the area approached her and her partner last year with the idea of hosting a Black Santa event, they jumped on it.

“They told us there was a gap, so we decided to fill it,” said Dhanani.

The first thing they did was reach out to their “most bubbly, jolly, funny” good friend Allister Thomas to take on this very special role.

Initially Thomas, who lives in Scarborough and used to own a T-shirt shop in the Danforth-Woodbine area, said he wasn’t too sure what to make of his friends’ unorthodox request, but decided to go for it.

“When they asked me, I felt curious,” he shared during an interview. “To be asked to play Santa Claus you have to be an old white guy. I am the complete opposite of what you’d expect to be Santa.”

Indeed, Thomas is an unlikely Father Christmas. He’s one with dreads and a short beard. He might wear something somewhat inspired by Santa’s wardrobe, but he won’t promise kids that he'll bring the presents they want.

“Don’t tell me what you want for Christmas. My job is to give you candy canes from this little tree,” joked Black Santa, who like his counterpart from the North Pole is always ready to share a laugh, tell a story, and crack smile for a photo.

More than 100 people showed up for last year’s Black Santa event, which was organized in just three days.

“It was cuteness overload. People from all over the city came,” said Dhanani who is expecting this year’s turnout will be just as big or even bigger.

“It was a joyful experience for everyone. It was a healing event on so many levels.”

Regent Park resident Bentley Springer and his wife Denise brought their twin boys Zander and Zion to meet Black Santa last year and plan to attend this time around as well.

“It was (the twins’) first Christmas and we did all the usual Santa visits, but this was something different and fun,” said Springer, who has fond memories of a now-elderly uncle who used to dress up like Santa when he was a youngster.

“We think there’s something powerful about our kids seeing (a Santa) who looks like them. We also felt it was important to support a local business in the community.”

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As for Black Santa, he said he can’t wait to see everyone on Dec. 7.

“I’ve been looking forward to it since the day after Christmas,” said Thomas, who can recall just one occasion growing up where he saw a non-white Santa Claus.

“I had the best time (last year). It was really fun. It was just interesting to see a completely different take on this icon.”