Scaled-back Help Santa Parade of Lights coming to downtown Ottawa this weekend
Posted Dec 3, 2021 01:30:00 PM.
Santa Claus is coming to town!
The Help Santa Toy Parade and Santa's Parade of Lights have teamed up to deliver a COVID-safe mini-parade in downtown Ottawa on Saturday, December 4.
The Ottawa Professional Fire Fighters' Association says the 'Help Santa Parade of Lights' is a hybrid parade for exceptional times.
The aim of the parade is to bring joy to children, parents and the public in the greater Ottawa area, with an additional focus on fundraising and toy collection.
Help Santa Parade of Lights Co-Chair, and long-time firefighter, Bob Rainboth says the theme for this year's parade is celebrating frontline workers.
“[It's a] bit of recognition to first responders, and associated groups that help first responders throughout the pandemic,” Rainboth said.
The parade will begin at Ottawa City Hall on Laurier Avenue at 11 a.m. on Saturday, and will proceed west to Bank Street, down to Fifth Avenue, ending just before Lansdowne.
Due to the pandemic, toy donations will not be accepted in-person at the parade. Toy donations can be made at all City of Ottawa fire stations instead, while cash donations can be made on the parade's website.
Three parades were originally scheduled, but has been scaled back to just one due to the incident at a Santa Claus parade in Wisconsin that left six dead and dozens injured.
