THUNDER BAY - For the past 20 years, a cold December night lights up to kick off the holiday season, and the only thing brighter than the trucks passing through city streets are the smiles of the kids cheering them on along the way.
The annual Parade of Lights is returning for its 20th year this December and organizers are hoping the people of Thunder Bay will make it the best year yet.
“This year marks a new initiative for us,” said Parade of Lights chair, Greg Stephenson. “We have the 20-20-20 campaign. We are encouraging businesses and citizens of Thunder Bay to donate $20 for the 20th year. We are hoping to raise $20,000 prior to the beginning of the parade.”
The four charities participating this year include Autism Ontario – Thunder Bay and District, George Jeffrey Children’s Centre, Special Olympics Ontario – Thunder Bay, and the Thunder Bay Therapeutic Riding Association.
All the money that is raised is split between the four charities and stays local. Stephenson said with it being the 20th year, he hopes each charity will receive the largest cheque they ever have.
“Our ultimate goal is $40,000 which I something we have never achieved before,” he said. “It will be a benchmark, but it will allow us to have $120,000 cheques for each of the charities.”
There will also be four parade marshals, one representing each of the four charities. This year’s marshals include Brynn Herron, Alex Johnstone, Tyler Hubbard-English, and Max Busque.
The parade will follow the same route as last year, beginning at the Manitoulin Transport Yard on Main Street and travelling down the Harbour Expressway to Memorial Avenue, where it will turn right on Queen Street and then travel south down Fort William Road to end at Water Street.
And while those watching the parade roll past clap and encourage the drivers to honk their horns, Stephenson said some people can be sensitive to that, which is why this year the parade will include a sensory friendly section along Fort William Road for anybody who may be sensitive to loud or sudden noises.
“If anybody is bothered by that, we encourage them to attend there and we will try to keep the noise to at least a minimum so they can enjoy the parade and not be bothered,” Stephenson said.
There are several ways to donate, including pledge sheets, people collecting money along the parade route, and a Go Fund Me page has been set for anyone wanting to donate by credit card.
“We strive to not only raise awareness for the charities, but also to raise the much needed funds they need to operate throughout the year,” Stephenson said. “We continue to try to grow it so it is bigger every year.”
Steven MacDonald, executive director of the George Jeffrey Children’s Foundation, said the money raised during the parade helps increase access to specialized care at the centre and enhance programs.
“It’s about empowering children in our community,” he said. “So the fact that we are one of four charities benefiting from this is really important for us and it’s important for the other charities. We are coming together to raise funds to support children in our community.”
“My first year involved in the parade was last year,” MacDonald continued. “It was a wonderful experience. I was on the George Jeffrey Bus and I got to see the kids from the centre taking part in the parade and it was really special.”
The Parade of Lights will be held on Saturday, Dec. 1 at 7 p.m. For more information and how to donate, visit the Parade of Lights website.
