By Elaine O’Connor,  The Province News

Couldn’t bring the kids to the mall in time to sit on Santa’s knee?  A  B.C. company has found a way to bring Santa to your kids.

That’s because St. Nick has gone digital, live and direct from the North Pole.

Using his own web video and chat site he can visit kids right in their living rooms, lead them in a rousing round of “Jingle Bells” or soothe them to sleep with a reading of The Night Before Christmas.

ChatwithSanta.com is an online portal created by Burnaby-based Interactive Netcasting Systems Inc. (INSINC), an internet communications company, on behalf of the jolly old elf himself. 

The site lets children instant message or call Santa live during broadcasts leading up to the holidays.  Santa responds to messages live via satellite-streamed video.  They can log on to hear Father Christmas read classic children’s stories, and sing carols all through the season.

The site first went live in December 2003.  It started that year with about 19,000 page views per day.  By 2004, it had reached 54,000 per day with children contacting Santa from as far away as Korea and the U.K.

INSINC president and CEO Hugh Dobbie started the site as a way to keep employees occupied during the slower holiday season.

This year, Santa started webcasting on Dec. 13.  The live chats ended Dec. 23 but video stories and songs are still available.

The site is free, but the creators encourage users to consider making a donation to charities.

“This site has been created to bring joy to children all over the world,” the site reads.  “One thing we do ask is that if you and your children enjoy this site, please help Santa help others less fortunate than ourselves.”