Santa’s arrival kicks off Christmas downtown

Bart Cummins/The Daily News

Santa waves to the crowd during Saturday’s parade.

If smiles could generate electricity, Saturday’s 29th Santa Claus parade might have solved global warming.

Thermometers barely eked out 2 C by 10:30 a.m. and even some North Pole elves were shivering.

But from bundled-up toddlers to bundled-up seniors, enthusiasm ran high on floats waiting alongside streets for the 11 a.m. parade.

Santa awoke in Kamloops Square and circulated for photos through the crowd.

Several elves and funny-looking clowns gathered by Santa’s float when . . .

Wait a minute. Clowns? What are clowns with white faces and frizz wigs doing in a Santa Claus parade?

“Gasp!” went one. “You can’t have a parade without clowns,” she exclaimed, and all the clowns and friendly elves laughed.

“We’re making a fashion statement,” said the sole male, Brynden Barbour — his face all white and lips bright red.

“We hand out candies and smile,” said another.

As for scaring the children, Barbour deadpanned: “We’re just as afraid of them as they are of us.”

In real life, they’re Scotiabank employees and friends, volunteering for the joy of it.

Frizzy-wigged Jan Stewart has attended since it started.

She began as an elf . . . “and moved all the way up to clown,” Barbour interjected.

Asked why he was involved, he admitted:
“They (the women) forced me.” Naturally, all the clowns and elves roared with laughter.

Elf Sarah Emery, 17, said she was in the parade because it was her “dream,” having attended every year of her life and always wanting to participate.

Waiting in line on St. Paul Street, 16 McDonald’s employees were excited just to take part and hand out corporate cookies.

Layne Clow handpicked the “most fun crew,” said community relations rep Brandy Walker and the company paid all of them to be there.

Ronald McDonald was also on hand — “flew in from McDonald Land, a little north of Hamburgerville,” said Clow.

Down the road, Brandon Coyle was driving a truck pulling a float of Beavers, ages five to seven, from as far away as Heffley Creek. The kids had hand-painted his new truck in umm . . . festive colours.

“They did it last night,” he said, staring at it in bemused disbelief. “They painted the banners and then just kept going. They tell me it will all spray off, but I won’t know till later on.

“But I enjoy it. It’s fun and important to get the kids out. A little snow would be nice — helps the Christmas spirit.”

Kamloops Heritage Railway probably had the most diverse volunteers. Emily Young of Cape Breton and Angela MacKenzie of Owen Sound, Ont., are with Katimavik. In their three months in Kamloops on the federally funded youth program, Emily helps KHR with office duties and Angela works at Overlander Extended Care befriending and assisting seniors.

Also with the KHR was Roy Baillargeon, the ghost engineer who lost his train in 1915.

“It’s all part of the story. I’m still looking for my train,” said the real, live apparition.

The parade worked its way along Victoria Street with a consistently festive air. Thoughts of taking candy from strangers or concerns about H1N1 were left at home as everyone embraced the contagious good cheer.

While that was going on, courteous traffic controllers kept vehicles flowing around the parade area with no apparent problems.

Comments

Be the first to comment!