I work at a non-profit child care centre here in Halifax. I took a group of toddlers to see a mall Santa and was told we must pay to see Santa. We can call and book a Santa party- They do have daycare rates or bring the children back in the afternoon and pay $5. The money is being raised for under privileged children's winter clothes. Although this is a good cause what they have inadvertently done is made Santa only available to the privileged children. In the end the mall Santa came out of his village and hugged the children and gave them a treat, however they were not permitted to go and sit on his lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. So what happened to the Christmas spirit? Is money so important that we will make it at the cost of childhood memories? —The Sad Christmas Teacher