Recent Ipsos-Reid polls out of British Columbia found that residents of that province are big believers in Santa Claus and in the spirit of giving.

Forty percent of adults 18+ in BC believe in Santa Claus, with 46% of women and 34% of men saying they believe in the big guy in red. Believers are more likely to live in the Lower Mainland (43%) or other areas of the province (43%) than in Vancouver, Burnaby or Westminster areas (31%). Those with household incomes over $100,000 (49%) and without a high education (45%) are high on Santa’s list.

Santa’s approval rating has dropped slightly in the province – 77% down from 79% last year – but he outranks Prime Minister Paul Martin (64%) and the province’s premier Gordon Campbell (40%).

When it comes to giving, charitable donations amongst adults 18+ in B.C. have grown over the past three years with 79% of people giving to charities this year compared to 74% in 2001. They have also been more generous, increasing their donations on average from $194 to $250.

But they aren’t just caught up in the holiday hoopla and are more likely to make donations throughout the year rather than just the festive season. Only one in five respondents said they make their donations at this time of the year.

Charities tied to social services benefit the most during the holiday season, including the Salvation Army (41%), food banks (23%), and the United Way. British Columbians also think about health-related groups at this time of the year, with donations to cancer organizations (24%), B.C.’s Children’s Hospital (14%); and the Diabetes Association (7%). Pet-related groups such as the SPCA and Humane Society were named by 6% of respondents.