Jack Frost is alive and well and living in Chemainus.
The name is more commonly associated with something nipping at your nose in The Christmas Song, but the real Jack Frost is a jolly old soul in these parts with his own renown.
The original Jack Frost has ties to mythology in several cultures that aren鈥檛 exactly clear. But his main ability is to bring about winter, snow or frost so he鈥檚 always been a seasonal favourite.
The Chemainus version is a family man with great ties to the community and, yes, Jack Frost is his real name and he鈥檚 73. Most people who鈥檝e known him a long time don鈥檛 think much about the connection to his more famous namesake.
But, as you would expect, eyebrows have always been raised over his name by those who aren鈥檛 in the know.
鈥淚 enjoyed it,鈥� Frost said. 鈥淚 get ribbed about it all the time. But it didn鈥檛 bother me.鈥�
A conversation would typically go like this after someone asks his name.
鈥淚 said it鈥檚 Jack Frost, what鈥檚 wrong with that?鈥� he pointed out. 鈥淓verybody said 鈥榠t鈥檚 freezing out here. Aren鈥檛 you cold?鈥� I said you鈥檙e talking to Jack Frost.鈥�
Jack鈥檚 dad was also named Jack with middle initial N. compared to his R. and, believe it or not, his dad once drove a red and white truck for Arctic Ice Cream in Victoria. Arctic was eventually bought out by Dairyland.
Jack鈥檚 mom was named Joan and all his other siblings had the same J.F. initials 鈥� Judy, Jill and Jerry. That brought up another interesting pairing with one of his sisters.
鈥淥f course, we got teased when we were younger, Jack and Jill,鈥� said Jack. 鈥淲hen we were younger we got stuck together, having fun.鈥�
And then there were some interesting times with friends Jerry Ferry and Robin Hood.
Frost related one time when the three of them were in a car together and got stopped by the police.
After asking for each of their names, the officer said 鈥榳ho鈥檚 driving the car?鈥� 鈥淚 said I am, Jack Frost.鈥�
鈥楾hat鈥檚 it. I had enough of you guys,鈥� was the response.
There were so many experiences pertaining to his name.
鈥淚鈥檇 get questioned going over the border,鈥� said Frost.
He鈥檚 been retired 20 years and has always carried a special place in his heart for Christmas.
Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, his persona would change and 鈥淚 put my Santa Claus suit on and I walk up the road with it,鈥� he chuckled.
Frost also played the part just last week for a visit to the Steeples assisted living facility to brighten the spirits of residents there.
鈥淭hey were quite happy and it made them laugh and smile,鈥� he said.
Frost has numerous Christmas lights, decorations and figurines around his yard on Victoria Road that people always enjoy seeing.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 have half of what I used to have,鈥� he said.
Frost鈥檚 brother-in-law used to be a carpenter at the Parliament buildings and gave him thousands of old light strings that went a long way.
鈥淭hey draw a lot of power,鈥� Frost said.
鈥淭here鈥檚 some really good light shows around,鈥� he observed.
That includes his own place, even though there鈥檚 been considerable downsizing, to keep the holidays aglow from a sometimes frosty exterior.
