Hagersville’s own elf: Vern Disher

By Mike Renzella

The Haldimand Press

HAGERSVILLE—Around this time of year, elves start popping up everywhere. They have the all-important holiday job of making all of the toys delivered worldwide on Christmas Eve. It may not be widely known, but one of those elves has made his home right here in Hagersville, and he is hard at work spreading cheer throughout our community this holiday season.

Unlike most elves who call the North Pole home, Vern Disher was born in Welland, Ontario in 1927. At 92 years old he is not the youngest member of Santa’s elite team, but he is surely one of the hardest working. He began his career back in 1943, working as a machinist at 16 years old. Four years later, at the age of 20, he married his high school sweetheart, Elsie.