Parade brings the Christmas spirit to Pikwakanagan

By Gerald Tracey News Editor

Pikwakanagan – The Algonquin community was filled with Christmas spirit and joy on Monday when the second annual Santa Claus parade brought smiles and feelings of goodwill to spectators who watched from their homes and driveways.

Kerry Andrews, manager of Sports and Recreation, was beaming with pride as she witnessed the smiling faces and joy among spectators.

“Honestly, I had a smile on my face all along the route,” she confessed. “It was just really nice to feel that and to be a part of it.”

Ms. Andrews felt the parade was something the community really needed, as the province and the entire world is dealing with surging COVID cases of the Omicron variant which has brought in new safety measures and restrictions for the second consecutive Christmas season.

“It (the parade) was really needed at this time heading into what this Christmas is going to look like.”

Ms. Andrews said the parade, which featured close to 20 entries, was double the size of the inaugural event last year. She urged community businesses, families and the various agencies that form the band to participate and her efforts paid off.

“There was amazing feedback on social media Monday night,” she said. “People were so happy that it happened.”

The parade was held Monday for a couple of reasons. First, there is less traffic in the community, although Monday was still a very busy day at the nearly 20 commercial enterprises at Pikwakanagan, and also because the schools were closed for the Christmas holidays and children could easily participate.

The theme of the parade was A Gingerbread Christmas and several floats were very well designed and decorated to support the subject.