(Updated 11:30 a.m., Nov. 29)
Thousands welcome Santa to Orleans during 15th Annual Parade of Lights
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

The guest of honour waves to children during the 15th Annual Parade of Lights on Saturday. Fred Sherwin/Photo

Tens of thousands of people lined St. Joseph Blvd. on Saturday night to take in the 15th Annual Parade of Lights and welcome jolly old St. Nick back to town.

Begun in 1994 in an effort to revitalize the former Gloucester Santra Claus Parade, the Parade of Lights has become the largest night time Santa Claus parade in Canada in terms of attendance and has led a wave of similar changes to parades in other communities including Ottawa where the Help Santa Toy Parade is being held in the evening for the first time on Dec. 5.

The huge turnout should go a long way in helping local firefighters make this year’s holiday season a little brighter for underprivileged children in the community.

This year's Parade of Lights attracted 80 entries, including a number of floats from local school and church groups and several first time entries.

As the floats went by, firefighters collected toys and passed along boots as parade-goers filled them with loonies and toonies as well as the odd five and $10 bill.

While the parade itself raises money and toys for a great cause, most of the children along the parade route were there for one reason and one reason only, to see Santa Claus for the first time and confirm that their favourite holiday is just around the corner.

"Awesome," was the one word eight-year-old Katrina Crittes used to describe the jolly old elf after he passed by.

The Orléans miss has been coming to the Parade of Lights ever since she was born. On Saturday, she watched the parade with friend Chloe Benson, 8, and their mothers Julie Crittes and B.J. Benson who both enjoyed the spectacle.

"I really enjoyed it this year," said Mrs. Crittes "I especially like all the school floats. It really adds to the community spirit."

Childrem on the Ecole des Sentiers float wave to people along the parade route during the Parade of Lights on Saturday. Fred Sherwin/Photo

Gordon Smith liked the fact that the Mayor made an appearance in this year's parade, riding on the City of Ottawa float with local councillors Rainer Bloess and Rob Jellett.

"It was nice to see him this year. I also liked the OC Transpo entry, they did a really good job this year," said Smith, whose daughter had a different opinion.

"I liked Santa because he had a new float and because my best friend was on the float," said Sydney Smith.

Some of the highlights of this year's parade included the Orleans Soap Box Derby float, the Ottawa Museum "Santa's Workshop" float; and the Ecole des Voyageurs float which had 2010 Olympics theme to it.

The 200-member plus Regional Cadet band was also a crowd favourite as was the Military Family Resource Centre float and the Orleans Young Players Theatre School float.

Ottawa-Orléans MPP Phil McNeely and MP Royal Galipeau also made an appearance in this year's parade. McNeely rode atop a horse drawn wagon while Galipeau walked the parade route sporting a Team Canada hockey sweater.

Parade organizers will be delivering the toys to the Eastern Ottawa Community Resource Centre next week, while the money will be put into the Fire Fighter’s Help Santa Toy Fund and used to purchase even more toys.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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