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Holidays in Winnipeg For more info go to mbhydrosantaparade.com or call (204) 77-SANTA Join Us! Saturday, November 18, 2023
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Holidays in Winnipeg 2
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2023
Join us at the pre-parade block party Free hot chocolate and cookies Live band Games Christmas Cheerboard on site collecting toy donations
Date: Saturday, Nov 18 th | Time: 2:30-5 pm Manitoba Hydro Place - 360 Portage Ave
“We’re so excited that our floats are back for another year. Spectators will get to see the horse-drawn Cinderella Carriage and the Carousel/Merry -Go-Round,” says Gary Shingleton, supervisor of community investment with Manitoba Hydro. Manitoba Hydro is throwing open the doors at the Gallery at Manitoba Hydro Place at 360 Portage Avenue starting at 2:30 p.m. on parade day and they want everyone to come for a visit. “We’ll have a series of events indoors with local band Swing de mes Réves, and our own volunteer choristers the Electric Chords will be singing Christmas carols between sets,” says Shingleton. King Cole Catering will provide coffee, hot chocolate and cookies to warm up tummies. While you’re sipping and munching, take a minute to snap a keepsake picture at the Kris Kringle rides again in the Manitoba Hydro Santa Claus Parade
Christmas-themed selfie wall. The Christmas Cheer Board will have volunteers in the Gallery, too. They’ll be all set to receive financial donations, pantry goods, or new, unwrapped toys. If you are bringing toys, they are making a special request for toys for kids aged 10-to-14 years. When you step outside the Gallery, you can have some fun at the Plug into Safety Giant Floor Game. Check out the two lineman “dress-up figures,” take some shots at the three cut-out smile spots, and you can even chat with some lineman at the Manitoba Hydro bucket truck! “Our friends at the Manitoba Electrical Museum and Education Centre will be out with their 1952 GM truck all decked out for the parade,” says Shingleton. Along with joining in the fun of the parade, they’re out to promote their holiday exhibit All That Glows, starting November 21 and running through to Jan. 6, 2024. “All That Glows features beautiful Christmas trees, ornaments, lights and other holiday fixtures going as far back as the 1920’s,” he says.
You can find details here:
electricalmuseum.ca Shingleton says there are approximately 70 dedicated Manitoba Hydro employees who step up to volunteer with the floats, the gallery activities, and to hit the street alongside Santa as costumed walkers. “Manitoba Hydro and our employees recognize downtown Winnipeg as our work community and that’s why we’re proud to be the corporate sponsor,” says Gary Shingleton. “The Santa Claus Parade is a wonderful celebration in Winnipeg’s downtown. That’s our community. That’s our neighbourhood ... and we really take that to heart.”
Thank you to
Holidays in Winnipeg 3
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2023
Parade Director’s Message
The unofficial kick off to the holiday season returns with the 2023 Manitoba Hydro Santa Claus Parade on Saturday, November 18 at 5 PM! We’re so excited to invite everyone back downtown for this free, fun, family-friendly tradition. The parade will be full of your favourites including new and returning floats and walking groups, great pre-parade Block Parties, and of course, Santa Claus! From start to finish, everyone will enjoy an evening lit up with twinkling lights, bright smiles, and holiday cheer.
It’s going to be a busy day downtown. We encourage everyone to come early and plan to spend the afternoon and evening in the heart of the city. Enjoy the Block Parties at 4 PM, the parade at 5PM and grab tickets for the Winnipeg Jets game at 6 PM. Carpool with friends, walk, or take Winnipeg Transit to the festivities - however you get there, give yourself lots of extra time! Thank you to everyone who makes the parade happen each year including partners and sponsors, the team,
Board, and incredible volunteers! Give a high-five to all the valuable volunteers you see along the route. We can’t wait to see you bundled up, cozy and warm with your winter woolies, for this year’s Manitoba Hydro Santa Parade!
for the younger children, but we have a real need for toys for the older kids, ages 10 to 14. So we’re asking that people also remember to bring some Christmas Cheer to those older children as well,” she says. Christmas Cheer Board volunteers will also be collecting donations at the Gallery at Manitoba Hydro located at 360 Portage Avenue. “Along with Manitoba Hydro, we’re hosting child-focused agencies from the inner city to give them a unique and exciting VIP experience at the parade and really get to be a part of the magic of the season,” says Bell. “This year, with the increase in food, the added cost of ordering toys, and the cost of paying for a leased space, our fund-raising goal is $1.3 million,” says Bell. Information to send financial donations can be found at the website at: christmascheerboard.ca
If you’re making your list and checking twice, it would be extra nice to include the Christmas Cheer Board this holiday season. Shawna Bell, executive director of the Cheer Board, says you can be good for goodness’ sake by sharing a donation at the Santa Claus Parade where Cheer Board volunteers will be collecting all along the parade route. “We’re excited to be at the Santa Claus Parade on Nov. 18!” says Bell. “Volunteers will be marching alongside our van, so just wave and they will come to pick up your donation from you,” she says. Pantry goods and new, unwrapped toys are welcome. For a complete list of needed items go to christmascheerboard.ca and click on “Ways to Help.” The Cheer Board also has a special request on their wish list. “We are always able to gather enough toys
Last year, almost 18,500 hampers were distributed and Bell expects that number to rise. “Every year, the Santa Claus Parade is a wonderful opportunity for us to come out and celebrate the start of the season in the heart of the city,” says Shawna Bell.
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2023
PARADE STARTS AT 5: Holidays in W SPONSORED BLOCK PARTIES: 45 PM
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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2023
:00 PM Winnipeg LEGEND PORTABLE TOILETS
Here’s what you should know to come prepared and ready to see Santa. PLAN YOUR PARADE EXPERIENCE • The parade starts at 5:00pm at Portage Avenue and Main Street and ends at Memorial Boulevard and St. Mary Avenue at approximately 6:30pm. • Check the website for details on the block parties and choose which one you want to attend. Arrive at 4:00pm to participate. • There are portable toilets available; check the map on the website for the ones closest to where you plan to be. ACCESSIBILITY • Areas in front of barricades and at the bottom of bleach- ers are reserved for handicap and wheelchair seating. This also includes people with limited mobility like pregnant women, elderly and injured. STAY COMFORTABLE • Bring a thermos of hot chocolate to keep you warm and snacks to keep you happy. • Dress warmly and bring a blanket to wrap around you. • Bring a lawn chair, or a pillow/cushion to sit on if you plan to sit on the curb – the concrete is cold! Remember to be kind to those around you and make room for anyone who has special requirements. GETTING THERE AND BACK HOME • Walk, bike, bus or carpool if you can. Over 40,000 people will be coming downtown and there is limited parking. • If you are driving, plan to leave home with plenty of time. So many streets are closed to prepare for the parade, it will take longer than usual to get there and find a parking spot. It may also be a bit of a walk to where you end up sitting. • On your way home, be patient. Remember that everyone else also wants to get home as soon as possible. ABOVE ALL, HAVE FUN! • Happy smiles and laughs from children of all ages fuel Santa’s sleigh and are the reason the Manitoba Hydro Santa Parade is 111 years old this year. • Show everyone your smile on Facebook and Instagram. Use #wpgsantaparade to make sure Santa sees them too!
ACCESSIBLE PORTABLE TOILETS
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2023 Grand Marsha
On stage, she’s a triple threat. As a competitor, she’s an Amazing Race Winner. At the microphone, she’s a motivational speaker. At this year’s Santa Claus parade, she’ll be Grand Marshal. She’s Winnipeg’s own Catherine Wreford and she is pretty pumped about it all. “I was very excited to be selected! I looked at our past grand marshals and I saw the name of the season one winner of the Amazing Race, Tim Hague Sr., who I know quite well,” says Catherine Wreford. “We chatted about how much fun he had, so I’m really excited to have that fun, too!” Wreford will have some back-up with her on parade day. “I’m bringing my kids to walk with me - they think it’s pretty cool that I’m grand marshal ... but my mom thinks it’s even cooler,” she says.
Wreford has wonderful Christmas memories from her childhood. One special tradition was a silk advent calendar with stars. Another was getting ready for Santa on the night before Christmas. “I used to leave out a beverage and some cookies for Santa and a carrot for Rudolph - and one year, I got a special note from Santa thanking me! I actually still have that little note!” She’s looking forward to meeting the jolly gentleman at the parade. “I’m very excited that Santa has time to do this because I know it’s a very busy time for him up at the North Pole!” she says. Many people know that Catherine Wreford was given a cancer diagnosis 10 years ago and she continues to defy the odds. “I’d really like to encourage everyone to support the CancerCare Manitoba Foundation, especially at this time of year,” she says. “I think that we all need to do something for someone else - even something as little as a smile.” Wreford says she has a tank top with a saying on it that sums up how she feels. “It says: Human. Kind. Be both.” People say they love that shirt and that it’s a great reminder because kindness means so much. My Christmas wish is for everybody to remember what it means to be kind to people.”. Vote for your favorite Parade Entry! Visit our Facebook or Instagram pages after the Parade to help us decide which entries displayed the spirit of the season. Every vote will earn you a chance to win a prize!
Even if it’s one or two, plan a safe ride home
WpgSantaParade WpgSantaParade Help Us Spread Some Holiday Cheer
NEVER DRINK AND DRIVE
Bring a non-perishable food item or a new, unwrapped gift and volunteers from the Christmas Cheer Board will collect your donation for use in the 18,000 Christmas hampers they create each year. Thank you for your support!
Holidays in Winnipeg 7
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2023
Get set for this year’s Manitoba Hydro Santa Claus Parade!
Join us for a fantastic, festive experience in downtown Winnipeg on Saturday, November 18th. Check out everything you need to know about this year’s parade below. Map it out. The parade will follow the route that debuted last year. We’re starting at Portage and Main and finishing at Memorial and St Mary. Where will you catch this year’s parade? This updated route allows us to reduce traffic disruptions and provide a smoother experience. That being said, there are still road closures and Winnipeg Transit reroutes in place so make your way downtown early. Stay on the nice list by carpooling, walking or taking Winnipeg Transit if you can. If only we all had flying reindeer like someone else we know… Look alive at 5! We’re returning to a nighttime parade so get ready for all the lights and sounds of the season! Our incredible 2023 Grand Marshal leads the parade down Portage Avenue, starting at 5 PM. Come early to enjoy the Block Parties. Enjoy free activities from community partners from 4 PM - 5 PM to stay entertained and warm while you wait for Santa! Check out the map on pages 4-5 for the Block Party locations. Stay late. There is a ton going on this evening, including a Winnipeg Jets hockey game at 6 PM at Canada Life Centre. Get tickets now and make the short walk from the parade route into the arena to cheer on the home team! Dress for success. It’s winter in Winnipeg! Bundle up from head to toe. Throw on an extra pair of socks, don a toque, and wear your fuzziest mittens to protect those fingers from freezing. Community cheer. Bring a non-perishable food item or a new, unwrapped gift for the Christmas Cheer Board. They’ll collect your donation along the route or you can donate at the Giving Tree at the Manitoba Hydro building atrium at 360 Portage Avenue. This wonderful charity provides 18,000 Christmas hampers each year and we all thank you for your support!
680 Harrow Street,Winnipeg, MB 204 360-7905 electricalmuseum.ca
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