Hello!

Santa Claus visited Vancouver last Sunday. There are some photos of the Santa Clause Parade.

To see you!

Ho! Ho! Ho!

The ski hill is looking for skiers and snowboarders to ride on the Batawa Ski Hill float this Friday night for the Stirling Parade – the last parade of the season.

Please let Meredith know if you can attend, and be at the Stirling Fairgrounds for 6pm.

613-398-6568, meredith@batawaskihill.com

Richmond Hill Santa Claus Parade took place on Nov. 15, 2009. Bad weather didn’t prevent thousands of people from filling the sidewalks of Yonge St. to see Santa.

+12 Pictures inside

+Bonus: municipal services

Pictures by Aleksejs Nesterins

If you’re heading out to the Santa Claus Parade this weekend, you’re sure to see his REINDEER!

Reindeer at the Toronto Zoo

The reindeer travels the FURTHEST of ANY land mammal, walking up to 5,000 a year! Can you image how fit these big guys are? And they need to eat healthy to fuel themselves up for the long trip! They have 4 stomachs! COOL! They mainly eat fungi in winter and moss, but also eat leaves from birch trees, grass. They might sneak into a nest and pop an egg or 2, but I don’t blame them, the protein is ESSENTIAL! Like it is for OUR body.

These guys might look seem like they are tough, but every tough animal, has a predator. Since they travel so much, just imagine how many predators they cross paths with. The golden eagle will hunt for the babies and the wolverine will also join them and take the little guys away. Brown bears, and polar bears eat reindeers of all ages.

Reindeer is light brown in the summer changing seasonally, from grey to white in winter! Its thick coat consists of 2 layers, a dense wooly undercoat, and a longer haired overcoat. Males have a thick mane of fur around the lower part of the neck. The antlers look like a branch, with curved main stems that sweep back and up from the forehead.

Santa Claus’ Reindeer

Flying reindeer pulls Santa Claus’ sleigh, these were first named in the 1823 poem “A visit from the St. Nicholas.” Can you name them all?

Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Dunder, and Bixem.

Visit the Reindeer at the Toronto Zoo, hours are 9:30-4:30 until Dec 31.

The Toronto Santa Claus Parade has been taking place every year since 1905 which makes it the world’s longest reoccurring children’s parade.  It is viewed all across North America and even reaches faraway countries such as Norway and New Zealand.  What started off as a small parade in Toronto and has now grown into annual cultural event.

The parade receives sponsorship from numerous national and international companies; Tim Hortons, Mercedes-Benz, Yorkdale, Coca-Cola Ltd, Sobeys, and McDonalds, to name a few of the sponsors.  These sponsors make it possible for the Santa Clause Parade to return year after year.  The parade also has numerous Media & Trade Partners; Global Toronto, The Toronto Star, harbinger, Hilton, etc.

These companies, whether they are sponsors or media & trade partners assist The Santa Clause Parade in promoting it and ensuring that there is enough funds to operate the parade and inform the market that it will be running at a certain time and a certain day.  Being one of the largest and most popular parades in the world makes it a very popular event, the streets are closed off for the parade creating traffic jams and rerouting, this can create negative publicity as the hassle will create angst towards the parade and its patrons from people who are being affected negatively from the parade.

The positive publicity and promotion that the parade receives is much greater than the negative publicity it receives.  The parade began as a promotional event for the Eaton Company in 1905 and continues to be a promotional component for many companies – so intern The Santa Clause Parade is a promotional figure as well as a promotional tool.

www.thesantaclausparade.com

Note the hill will be shortly also looking for volunteers to participate in other local parades (dates forthcoming).

Belleville Santa Claus Parade Walkers/Riders needed for the Batawa Ski Hill Float:

Nighttime Santa Claus Parade
Friday, November 13th, 2009
6:30 p.m. (leaving the corner of North Front St. & King George Square)

Contact Meredith (meredith@batawaskihill.com) if you can participate!

Parade volunteer Showey touches up the paint on one of the giant heads that another volunteer will don to strut in Detroit's annual Thanksgiving Day event

They paint giant chicken heads, stitch dragon tails, wrestle school bus-sized helium balloons and serve as Equestrian Escorts—a fancy name for the “super-pooper-scoopers” who follow the horse units and keep the street clean for America’s Thanksgiving Parade through downtown Detroit.

They are among the 2,500 volunteers who donate their time to keep alive the city’s annual Turkey Day extravaganza, a holiday tradition since 1924.

Judy has been a dedicated parade volunteer for nearly 2 decades

One of those dedicated souls is Judy, who 19 years ago fulfilled her long-held desire to be a part of the parade. For nearly 2 decades she says she has helped with “sewing costumes, float construction, carving styrofoam, painting…all those good things.”

Now, with failing eyesight, she is still able to serve as a guide on public tours of the Parade Company studio and warehouse in Detroit, where the colorful floats and costumes are created, maintained, and stored. Two questions kids commonly ask during the tours: whether they can climb on the floats (no) and, “Is Santa Claus real?” to which Judy always answers, “Of course he is!”

Showey didn’t intend to become involved with the parade, but when a friend who is a volunteer suggested she meet him at the studio, she was hooked. Now she looks forward to spending time surrounded by oversized creatures, clowns, and storybook characters. ”It’s such a fantasy; everyone’s so happy!” she says as she dabs paint on one of the giant heads that will make its way along the parade route on Thanksgiving morning.

Two volunteers clown around as they guard the new float sponsored by Art Van Furniture, under wraps behind them at The Parade Company studio

Until November 14 volunteers can sign up to help on this year’s parade; the Web site has details on tasks ranging from carrying a banner to helping with costumes for the civic-minded folks who pay to march in the Distinguished Clown Corps and the Big Head Corps.

The parade steps off at 9:20 a.m., Thursday, November 26 and makes its way about two miles down Woodward Avenue. American Idol contestant Danny Gokey will appear on the CBS-FM Radio float; he’ll will also perform at the black-tie Hob Nobble Gobble fundraiser on the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving.

But the real star of the show, as he has been for each of the parade’s 83 years, is Santa.

Plus, of course, the volunteers who make the whole shebang happen.

Holidays on Parade:
Visit The Parade Company Studio at a fun family event from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, November 28; see the floats, enjoy entertainment and food, and chat with Santa. Click here to print out a dollar off admission coupon.

America’s Thanksgiving Parade is broadcast live on Detroit’s WDIV-TV and the first hour of it on a number of stations nationwide.

Wizard of Oz, one of several parade floats veteran volunteer Judy helped create

Dear Diary,

I saw in the paper today that Bob Hope, Jack Benny, and John Barrymore are going to lead the Santa Claus parade in Los Angeles next month. Oh, to be in Los Angeles next month. But in a way I had rather be in New York or Washington. (On the Quiz Kids, if you hadn’t guessed it.) What am I saying? I’d rather see Bob Hope than the Quiz Kids.

Hendrik goes shopping for an 8 gig card to upgrade the storage capabilities on his digital camera. 

AHA watched the tail end of the Santa Claus parade today Sunday Dec 7th 2008. Nice ‘wolfish’ dogs in the photo

“This year marks the 27th Annual Santa Claus Parade, a winter tradition in Fort Macleod. The parade is the largest of its kind in western Canada. Floats galore, marching bands, street entertainers and Santa himself bring in the Christmas Spirit! More than 10,000 people line the streets to welcome Santa and his special guests. The parade opens with the Town Crier in horse and buggy, calling out the news that Santa is on his way! Colour and sound are the order of the day, making the Santa Claus parade an event to remember. Each years’ theme sparks creativity in costumes and floats. And the bands! Brass bands, pipe bands, marching bands, drum groups! The Biggest and Best Santa Claus Parade in the West! Don’t miss it!”

What? Santa Claus Parade

When? November 29th, 2008, 11:00 am

Where? Main Street, Fort MacLeod

Hat Tip: FortMacLeod.com

A child’s eye view of the parade…

The Santa Claus parade in Montreal was the parade to end all parades. I have watched the Santa Claus parade from Toronto on T.V., and I have attended a few minor-league Santa Claus parades in my time, but I have never experienced a parade like this. 

This was a spectacle in the best sense of the word. The make-up and costumes were fabulous. The participants really embodied their characters, and there was quite a line-up. We saw dozens of varieties of elves, toy soldiers, dolls, clowns and Christmas fairies. The moon and the stars came down just for the occasion and were accompanied by a candy cane dance troupe, walking gingerbread cookies, playing cards, Christmas trees, bears, goats, cats, Ukranian dancers, christmas decorations, stilt- walkers, Mexican dancers, a Buddhist Band, the Bonhomme du Carnavale, singers, bakers, and the list goes on and on. 

The extra effort into putting it all together was definitely noticeable. The floats were top-notch and the choreography was impeccable. All this carnivalesque frolicking acting as an effervescent build-up to the brief but climactic Santa spotting at the end. Characters would intermittently announce that “Santa is on his way”, or that “Santa will be here soon” to build up the anticipation of the crowds who lined up for more than an hour in the cold. The little children’s hearts beat faster in their snowsuits, and at the very end, he finally arrived! Santa, ringing his bell, shouting Joyeux Noel and Merry Christmas, thanking the masses for coming to see him. We saw faces full of joy and wonder, amazed and in awe of their Christmas super hero. 

The strangest part of the whole event was that once Santa got to the end of the parade route, he was quickly ushered into a shiny black SUV surrounded by dozens of security dressed in black from head-to-toe. One of the mothers who was waiting at the end of the street was pretty disappointed that her son didn’t get to see Santa before he hurried into his getaway vehicle. I guess even Santa needs an entourage these days.

Last week was hard, really hard.  It was the hardest and most emotionally draining week I have had in a long time.

Thankfully I had a fantastic weekend.  Filled with hanging out with great friends – both old and new , a Santa Claus parade, shopping, drinking festive lattes and relaxing.  It was just what I needed.  :)

As this week begins, I am a little bit nervous for what lays ahead.  School is still crazy, we’re preparing for big conference next week on top of all our end-of-the-semester assignments and wrap up.  The conflict I had with a good friend is still there.  She seems to want to pretend it never happened, but I can’t do that.  I’m still hurt and confused.  Still pondering about finding a new place to live.  

One thing at a time.  Tonight, I am volunteering with a local youth group in a low-income area of Toronto.  I am excited about the opportunity to begin making relationships with these teenagers.

            Ontem fui conferir o Santa Claus Parade. Trata-se de uma das maiores parada de Papai Noel do mundo. Acontece sempre em um domingo no meio de novembro e passa pelas principais ruas de Downtown.

            As crianças adoram este evento e os pais costumam chegar bem cedo para guardar os melhores lugares na calçada.

            No desfile participam palhaços, personagens de desenhos animados, carros alegóricos com temas infantis, alunos e bandas de fanfarra das escolas. Tudo isso ocorre no maior clima de paz e sem empurra-empura.

            O ponto alto da festa é a presença do próprio Papai Noel em seu carro alegórico. As crianças gritam e acenam sem parar neste momento especial da festa. Por fim, o clima ficou mais natalino com os primeiros flocos de neve do mês de novembro. O espírito do Natal já chegou!

Its that time of that year again and Santa is coming to town. Over the last 3 years , my family and I go to Oshawa to watch the nightime Santa Parade. Oshawa is closer to home, so its easier for us to watch it there. Plus the night time effect with all the lights and colours is pretty spectacular.

This year though, we have decided to go to the downtown Toronto Parade happening on Novemeber 16 . The 104th Santa Claus Parade starts at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. The parade runs from the corner of Bloor and Christie Sts., runs east along Bloor to Avenue Rd., south to Queen St., then east to Yonge St. From Yonge, the parade heads south to to Front St., turning east on Front and ends at the corner of Front and Church Sts. Global TV will broadcast the parade on Sunday, Nov. 16 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

This parade is known to be the largest production of its kind in North America. The 1st ever Santa Claus Parade was originally launched in 1905 it was a ‘one-man show’ – Santa himself.

Year by year more floats were introduced and personnel added until it became one of the largest productions of its kind in North America. The parade has a delayed telecast shown all over the world. So, if you are not in and around Toronto and missed this parade. Check it out on TV. Maybe you’ll even see me waving to you. lol.

I promise to post photos.

What’s On This Weekend: Santa Claus Parade in Toronto!

For those of you looking to get into the spirit of the holidays, make your way to the Yonge-Dundas Square this Sunday November 16 for the larger-than-life Santa Claus Parade! The Parade starts at 12:30pm but arrive early for a free grab ‘n go breakfast for the first 5,000 people to arrive at the square. There will also be live entertainment with a magician, Celebrity Clown, face painting, a live band, team mascots and celebrity photos and autographs. To view the complete Santa Claus Parade route map visit www.toronto.com.

For those of you wishing to stay in or visit the Mississauga area, may we suggest these fun events:

The Kidbits Professional Book Fair continues this weekend through to November 23 at the Central Library at 310 Burnhanthorpe Rd. W. Stop in with the whole family and see what your local library has to offer!

Come and check out the “Voices and the Band” live show at the Clarington pub this Saturday evening, November 15, for some great music, food, and drinks. Everyone is welcome! The show starts at 9pm and is free.

The Clarington Pub is located at 2157 Royal Windsor Drive, Mississauga, ON. For more details about the “Voices” show, contact Stella Rezgo at 416-457-8428.

May we also recommend the Diwali Show 2008 presented by Shree Prajapati Mandal. The show takes place Sunday, November 16, at 2pm at Hammerson Hall. Come and enjoy local community dancing and singing in celebration of cultural heritage. For tickets, call the box office at (905) 306-6000. Ticket prices are $15 / $20 / $25.

So it is time to drop your headsets, head out of the office, and enjoy the fun events happening in Toronto and Mississauga!

If you’re going to be in the city this weekend, you might want to catch a film held by the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Fest. Animated, short films, documentaries, etc. will be screening at various venues downtown. Featuring filmmakers from all over, it’ll be worth checking out.

On Sunday, oversized reindeer and sleighs will be parading through the streets of Toronto for the Annual Santa Claus Parade.  Personally, I’ve never been, but parades are always exciting. Let your inner child sparkle (or fizzle).

So I wasn’t going to mention this, but since it’s a big deal to the billions of Mrs Edward Cullens out there, let’s talk Twilight. Fans of the books are highly anticipating the release of the first film next week. So when Much Music announced that the cast will be doing a meet-and-greet on Queen this Saturday, I think 80% of the female teen population in the GTA died and went to heaven. If  being surrounded by massive amounts of screaming fangirls (and high estrogen levels) is your thing, the Much Music studio is the place to be on Saturday evening. *cough*

Have a happy weekend

This year, RBM Carriers were pleased to help the local Salvation Army in their annual Santa Claus parade both in Newmarket and Aurora, Ontario. We provided the tractor, trailer and of course driver! Both parades went without a hitch and everyone was more than pleased!

Here’s some pictures – enjoy!

The theme of the parade this year is “pioneer”. Float construction in the HM parking lot starting at 9 am, Saturday, December 1. Parade starts at 1 pm. Last year the museum won third prize. This year it is time to go for first.

HM staff member Melissa Coleman models her costume for the parade float

Last Saturday, we watched the Santa Claus Parade in Oshawa.
A year ago, we were out and about here to watch the Santa Claus Parade too. I did blog about it over here. And yes, it was the same cold and freezing night. By the time the parade was over, my toes were frozen. Although the whole family was ready with our lawn chairs, blankets and all donned in our winter coats; just sitting there and watching tends to freeze you up. Next year, we will wear our thermal socks and thermal shoes.

All in all, it was a fun time. The time was well spent. We had our popcorn and hot-chocolate milk in tow while awaiting the parade to start.

Here are some photos we took. Pardon the darkness. Check out the slide show here

santa parade 2007

‘Tis the season for this event. This year’s Santa Claus Parade in downtown Toronto was last Sunday. My sisters and my cousin went on that one. Maybe Misyel will blog about it. This parade is the one we wanted to go to but it was just too far and too cold. Plus, my little girl is just recovering from a bad cold. Nonetheless, we watched the telecast over at Global TV. Go over to their website and check out if it is now available. They mentioned that the coverage will be available on line until the end of December or was it early January.

Santa has come and is probably over at the malls now handing out candy canes while kids hop on to his lap for a nice cheery Christmas photo.

So are you awaiting Santa’s arrival for Christmas? Stay good then!