Duane Hicks
Date set for
Nov. 28
Causeway General Insurance Brokers Ltd. will organize and sponsor the 52nd-annual Christmas “Parade of Lights,” which is slated for Saturday, Nov. 28.
Though still seven weeks away, organizers already have started working on the parade in order to make it the best one Rainy River District has ever seen.
Pam Buttner of Causeway said the business took on the event, which most recently had been organized by the Downtown Business Improvement Association, to ensure it would continue as a local tradition and a way to help out the community.
“We’re all really excited,” she noted, adding the BIA had indicated it did not want to head up the parade this year and that Buttner and the Causeway staff “didn’t want it to go away.”
“We’re doing it because we wanted to give back to the community, too,” said Buttner, adding B93•FM will be collecting items for local food banks during the parade.
The Causeway office (229 Scott St.) also will be a drop-off site for food donations in case people want to donate goods but can’t make it to the parade.
While an energetic staff at Causeway is serving as the core group of organizers, Buttner said the more volunteers involved with the parade, the better, adding they definitely will be trying to get Fort Frances High School students to lend a hand.
She also encouraged individuals and groups that have helped out with, and participated in, the parade in past years to come forward once again.
“Put a float in, dress up, do something,” enthused Buttner, adding there’s no specific theme this year beyond “Parade of Lights.”
To pre-register a float or volunteer, call B93•FM at 274-5341 or Brenda at Causeway General Insurance (274-6688).
As noted, the parade will take place Nov. 28, with the lineup starting at 3 p.m. and getting underway by 4:30 p.m.
While the parade route hasn’t been confirmed with the town yet, organizers are planning for it to start at the old CN station, proceed down Central Avenue and then Scott Street, coming to an end at the Memorial Sports Centre.
The “Parade of Lights” has been run by the BIA since 2002, when they took it over from the now-defunct Rotary Club.
“It’s going to be nice to see a new group of people organizing it,” said BIA co-ordinator Patti Anderson.
“It’s going to be a group, not just one or two people, and that’s what makes it fun—when you have more people involved with more ideas, it makes it exciting.
“I am going to miss doing it this year,” Anderson admitted. “It’s been five years I have been doing it, and I am going to miss that part of it, but it’s going to be fun because my children are little and this is going to be the first time I am going to get to watch it with them.
“I am looking forward to that.
“I wish them [Causeway] all the best,” Anderson added. “It’s going to be a great parade.
“It always is, it always turns out.”
Anderson first mentioned last October that she would welcome another group to come forward and adopt the parade, citing that not only is it a lot of work, but the BIA’s budget is tight and the money spent on the parade could be used to more directly market the downtown business community during the Christmas shopping season.
As for the upcoming holiday season, Anderson noted the BIA still will be doing its “Cocoa and Cookies With Santa” event at the Fort Frances Museum on the Saturday following the parade (Dec. 5).
She also is working on a Christmas promotion, the details of which will be forthcoming.
