THUNDER BAY – Organizers of the annual Parade of Lights have set an ambitious fundraising goal.
But the $40,000 they hope to raise will go a long way to help four local charities offer services to people who need them, says parade co-chair Greg Stephenson.
It’s also a lot of fun for the thousands who come out to watch each December.
“It’s roughly three to four weeks before Christmas and it’s a good way to kick off the Christmas spirit,” said Stephenson, launching this year’s event on Monday in the parking lot of Impact Promotions, a sponsor of the holiday favourite.
“It’s supports four local charities and I think that’s important and a way for us to entertain the public as well as raise money and information for the charities.”
This year’s parade, scheduled for Dec. 7, beneficiaries include the George Jeffrey Children’s Centre, the Therapeutic Riding Association, Autism Ontario and Special Olympics.
“Whatever we raise is a benefit to them. They do a lot of work and they need funds to continue throughout the year,” said Stephenson, an officer with the Thunder Bay Police Service and former head of the police association.
“We are obviously just one of many agencies that supports them and I think it’s two-fold. The kids come out and the four charities each have their own float. I know Autism Ontario gets a city bus and have a lot of kids who ride the bus.
“Every year we honour one charity with a parade marshal, who gets to lead the parade.”
This year’s marshal is Logan Goldberg, who represents the Thunder Bay Therapeutic Riding Association.
The parade, which features dozens of trucks and other vehicles decked out in colourful, imaginative lights, is helped immensely by police, who volunteer their time to man the parade route.
Deputy Police Chief Ryan Hughes said it’s one of his favourite events of the year, one he and his contingent look forward to every December.
“I’ve been participating with Greg since I was a constable coming up through the different ranks,” Hughes said.
“All the officers who help Greg out during the evening of the parade are all fully-dressed volunteer officers that help with the traffic control. They all volunteer their time for this special event. It’s been great the last few years. We’ve seen the crowds grow and grow and people line up along the roads and raise a lot of money for the charities to help them out. We’d like to exceed the amount we got last year.”
The 2018 edition of the Parade of Lights collected $34,422.
Parade walkers will be collecting donations along the route, which begins along Main Street and continues up the Harbour Expressway, along Memorial Avenue and ends at the intersection of Fort William Road and Water Street.
The latter stretch has once again been designated a sensory friendly section and drivers have been asked to shut off music and not honk their horns for those who might be bothered by loud noises.
The festivities begin at 7 p.m.
