Holidays in Winnipeg | 2013

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Supplement to the Winnipeg Free Press • NOvember 9, 2013

Holidays in Winnipeg Join us for the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade! Saturday, November 16, 2013 at 5 p.m.

Parade Day Activities: Santa’s Block Parties begin at 4 p.m. Santa Claus Parade begins at 5 p.m.

Entertainment at The Forks Spinning LIVE with Energy 106 Crew at 7 p.m.

Hosted by JD Francis & DJ Breeze! Fireworks at The Forks at 7:30 p.m.

Shaw TV Winnipeg will broadcast the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade live on Channel 9. The parade will also be streamed live online on by Global Winnipeg at globalnews.ca/winnipeg

Go to www.winnipegsantaparade.com to see the parade route!

Partners:

Media Sponsors:

Sponsors:

Supporters: Aikins Law • Tourism Winnipeg • West End Biz • Festival of Trees & Lights • Sport Manitoba • Springs Church • Lions Place • Tina Lussier Social Media • GNR Camping World RV Centre • The Forks • NASCO • Winnipeg ARES

Sponsors and supporters play huge role in parade’s success By Aileen DeWyngaert For the Free Press

people who can’t be there in person to enjoy the festivities, like Shaw TV, which broadcasts live from the big event and then re-broadcasts the parade several times over the holiday season. And Global TV has also jumped on the sleigh, so to speak, this year to stream the parade live on their website, which, as Mark is excited to point out, opens up world-wide viewership opportunities. In addition to gifts in kind and financial support, the 14-member board are also sponsors who represent a host of local organizations, including the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, JCI Winnipeg, Travel Manitoba and the Christmas Cheer Board to name but a few. “The parade is organized by a very hard-working and dedicated volunteer board of directors,” said Mark. “Each and every one of them dedicates countless time and energy in assuring that parade day every year is a smashing success. We are so grateful to have them all!” The sponsors may come from very different ends of the business spectrum, but they all have one thing in common – they want to give back to the community and be part of something that’s captured the hearts of Manitobans for more than a century.

December 6, 2013 - January 7, 2014 6:00 - 10:00 pm nightly www.TourismPortageLaPrairie.com 204-239-8334

I t takes a small army to put on a spectacle the size of the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade – from the more than 700 volunteers, 14 volunteer board members to the dozens of partners, sponsors and supporters who lend their time, expertise and financial resources to make it all possible. “We’re very fortunate to have such tremendous support from our sponsors,” said Ron Mark, executive director of the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade. “Starting with Manitoba Hydro, which is presenting the parade. We’ve really been able to draw on our relationship and learn from them to make the parade better from an environmental perspective.” For the sponsors who’ve made a commitment to be part of this Manitoba tradition year after year, it’s about more than just adding their logo to a brochure or a float to the parade. Mark says the Santa Claus Parade team relies on a number of very active partner sponsors like the City of Winnipeg, Great West Life and the Downtown BIZ. There are also the media sponsors who bring the parade to

City’s volunteer spirit on parade

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2013 3 P . M . & 7 P . M . W ESTMINSTER U NITED C HURCH Adults $30 Seniors $25 Under 30 $15 Tickets available at McNally Robinson or by calling 204-896-PHIL(7445) www.thephil.ca CHRISTMAS WITHTHE PHIL: TRUMPETS SOUND,ANGELS SING GUEST ARTISTS: Winnipeg Brass Quintet, Linden Christian School Senior Chorus

crowd control such as the MPI-sponsored “No Feet on the Street” patrols, clean-up and even participating as parade characters. Volunteers receive job training at special orientation sessions, conducted by Britton and members of the Winnipeg Police Service and the Downtown BIZ. A post-parade volunteer appreciation night and parade participation awards presentation will be held in the festive atmosphere of the Festival of Trees and Lights at the Manitoba Hydro building at a later date. Britton says she’s seen some people really blossom in their volunteer roles and, if possible, their commitment has earned them a greater leadership role the following year. That’s how Andriana Demchuk became the parade’s Host-a-Block program co-ordinator. “I had some spare time a few years ago and heard that the Santa Claus Parade still needed volunteers,” said Demchuk. “After spending the day volunteering at parade headquarters, I fell in love with the event and expressed an interest in getting more involved, and Jackie said ‘That’s great, I have the perfect job for you.’”

By Nancy Boomer For the Free Press T here will be something truly special on parade on Nov. 16 – Winnipeg’s boundless community spirit. Jackie Britton, volunteer co-ordinator of this year’s Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade, has a lofty assignment she says is made much easier by the charitable nature of Winnipeggers. “It is just amazing how people seem to come out in droves every year to volunteer to help at the Santa Claus Parade,” said Britton, a Manitoba Hydro marketing employee who has also been the event’s volunteer chief for the past five years. “Our volunteer contingent has grown over the years from a few hundred to the more than 800 registered volunteers, including 100 from Manitoba Hydro, who have signed up to help at this year’s parade.” Volunteers are the driving force behind this year’s event, lending their time and talents to a variety of event-related work including organization, management, security,

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Supplement to the Winnipeg Free Press • NOvember 9, 2013

Parade set to kick holiday spirit into high gear

Winnipeg and Manitoba – it’s open to everybody and there’s no cost.” In addition to supporting the Christmas Cheer Board, JCI hosts a Santa’s Workshop party for about 250 downtown youth who come and have their picture taken with Santa. If you can’t make it out in person, you can watch it live on Shaw, who will also re-broadcast the event at least six times before Christmas. Or you can watch a live video stream on Global Winnipeg TV’s website. The Santa Claus Parade also has a Facebook page and Twitter account – their social media platforms will be in full effect during the parade. “We want to pack as much into the event as possible,” said Mark. “Winnipeggers are a fantastic bunch of people and winter is part of our reality. I want to encourage people to dress warmly, enjoy the Host-a-Block parties and help us kick of the winter festival season in Manitoba!”

them to their spot. “We’re also proud of a new safety initiative this year called No Feet on the Street,” added Mark. “We have about 30 new volunteers who will be wearing safety vests and encouraging people to safely view the parade from the curb. We also have volunteers at all of the intersections helping people with special needs find barrier-free viewing zones.” The parade starts at 5 p.m., but it’s best to arrive early and take in one of the Host-a-Block parties. Sixteen organizations are hosting mini block parties along the parade route starting at 4 p.m. where participants can enjoy music, mascots and activities like street hockey to keep occupied until the parade starts. Each host will also have a tent where they will accept non-perishable food items, new unwrapped toys and monetary donations for the Christmas Cheer Board. “We really pride ourselves on giving back to the community,” said Mark. “This is a really great event for

“But Mrs. Claus will be in charge of keeping track of him. And Canada Post will be on hand to accept letters to Santa.” Wherever Alvin does pop up, Mark assures there will be plenty of great viewing areas along the parade route from Young Street to The Forks. In addition to more than 15 blocks of curb-side viewing, there will be bleachers in front of the University of Winnipeg and about 40 prime indoor viewing spots available primarily for people with mobility issues on the mezzanine of the MTS Centre overlooking the parade route. The MTS Centre mezzanine will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Mark and the 14-member volunteer board worked hard to provide access to people with mobility issues. Anyone who requires special needs seating is encouraged to complete an application form on the Santa Claus Parade website (winnipegsantaparade.com) and arrive between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to meet a volunteer who will direct

By Aileen DeWyngaert For the Free Press

I t’s been a tradition in Manitoba for more than a century and on Saturday, November 16, the big guy returns to the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade. “We’re very excited about the parade this year,” said Ron Mark, executive director of the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade. “This is the 104th parade and every year we try to do a bit more to make sure we have things that are more enjoyable to the public.” Depending on the weather, Mark anticipates between 40,000 and 50,000 spectators at this year’s event. And he promises they won’t be disappointed. There will be close to 100 entries and approximately 2,000-3,000 float riders and walkers. Among them will be a new face: Alvin the Elf, the good-natured and mischievous new mascot. “You never know where he’ll pop up,” said Mark. From Amazing Race to face of the parade

embarrassed, overwhelmed and immensely proud all at the same time. It was wild,” he said. But it’s this new-found fame that’s creating a major opportunity for Hague, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s three years ago, to raise awareness of the issue and partner with various organizations to develop programs for people living with the disease. Viewers who tuned into The Amazing Race Canada each week saw how Hague fearlessly faced all of the challenges. The most nerve-wracking had to be walking off a plank in British Columbia in spite of the physical symptoms of Parkinson’s, which is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that can cause shaking, rigidity and slowness of movement. Since returning home, he’s had countless speaking engagements, co-ordinated the Party for Parkinson’s, a cruise on the River Rouge this past summer, and plans to create more awareness events. And most recently, he spearheaded a new Parkinson’s Wellness Program at the Reh-Fit Centre on Taylor.

Alleluia, Rejoice!

Let our songs of joy be our gift to you this Christmas. J OIN W O N FOR A TRADITIONAL C HRISTMAS CONCERT

3:00PM Sunday, December 1 Westminster United Church 745 Westminster Avenue Tickets: $15.00

By Aileen DeWyngaert For the Free Press

Y ou may know him best as one half of “The Tims”, the now famous father-son duo from Winnipeg who won the inaugural edition of The Amazing Race Canada . But on Saturday, November 16, Tim Hague Sr. will don a different hat as Grand Marshal of the 104th annual Santa Claus Parade in Winnipeg. The Hagues have a long history of attending the parade, which makes this honour all the more special for Tim Sr. “Tim Jr. was born in 1990,” he said. “We bundled him up and went to his first Santa Claus Parade that year. We were freezing our butts off, but it was a great time and we enjoyed going to the parade for many years.”

“There’s a need for more resources available for people with Parkinson’s,” he said. “Everyone knows about the cardiac program at the Reh- Fit Centre. We went to them and said ‘we want something like that for Parkinson’s.’” Still in its infancy, Hague is working on developing a more robust program that he plans to launch in the New Year.

C HRISTMAS WITH THE P HIL : T RUMPETS S OUND , A NGELS S ING !

All this while still holding down his job as a nurse and juggling his role as activist with public speaking engagements and spending time with his family. He plans to visit Tim Jr. in his new home in New Brunswick in December. More information about Hague’s Parkinson’s Wellness Program is available by calling the Parkinson’s Association of Manitoba or the Reh- Fit Centre. Parade Marshal Tim Hague Sr. won the inaugural edition of The Amazing Race Canada with his son, Tim Jr. Submitted photo.

Although he’s flattered by all the attention he’s received since appearing on the show, he says it can still take him by surprise at times. During taping, they didn’t get a true sense of the amount of pride Winnipeggers took in their hometown team at first, but it finally sunk in on his way to work one morning.

“I take the bus to work every other day and a few days after our win was revealed I stepped on the bus and the entire bus erupted in applause. I just wanted to melt into the floorboards – I was

Celebrate the joy of the season with the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir’s Christmas with the Phil: Trumpets Sound, Angels Sing! on Sunday, December 15 at Westminster United Church. Western Canada’s longest-established choir, the Phil is a choral trademark for the City of Winnipeg, and has also captivated audiences in Vancouver, Toronto and New York’s storied Carnegie Hall. Renowned for legendary performances with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra (most recently last spring’s sold-out 90th Anniversary gala performance of Elijah at St Boniface Cathedral and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at the Concert Hall), the Phil’s annual holiday presentation has become a hallmark of the Christmas concert season. Joining the Phil this year is the Winnipeg Brass Quintet and Linden Christian School Senior Chorus.

Angelic voices. Brilliant brass. Christmas music and sing-alongs. Who could ask for anything more? This season, the Phil has added a second concert to ensure you won’t miss a note of its annual holiday celebration. Last year, the Phil sold out its regular 3pm concert and turned hundreds away at the door.To accommodate demand for what has become a very hot ticket, a 7pm concert has been added, ensuring that all lovers of beautiful Christmas music will be able to share the joy. Christmas with the Phil: Trumpets Sound, Angels Sing! will be presented on Sunday, December 15 at 3pm and 7pm, at Westminster United Church, 745 Westminster at Maryland. Tickets available at McNally Robinson Booksellers or by calling 204-896-PHIL(7445) or visiting www.thePhil.ca.

Cheer Board invites ’Peggers to love and share

Kai Madsen, executive director of the Christmas Cheer Board. Winnipeg Free Press Archives

By Nancy Boomer For the Free Press A s the designated charity for this year’s Santa Claus Parade, the Christmas Cheer Board will have a strong presence at the event, giving parade- goers many opportunities to show their support for the annual drive. Cheer Board volunteers will be collecting cash donations, non-perishable food items and new, unwrapped toys along the parade route to help out this year’s Cheer Board drive. Cheer Board executive director Kai Madsen marvels at the way Winnipeg rises to the occasion every year in support of their disadvantaged fellow citizens. “People attending the parade have always been very generous toward us, so we hope they have a good time and, once again, show their support. After all, the Christmas Cheer Board belongs to all of us.” The Christmas Cheer Board was born in 1919 as a caring response from a community determined to help fellow Winnipeggers in need at holiday time.

Today’s Cheer Board makes Christmas merrier for families in financial need by providing food for a traditional holiday dinner and gift-wrapped presents so that everyone can enjoy the season and experience the spirit of giving. In 2012, the Cheer Board prepared and provided holiday hampers for about 18,000 families and toys for 20,000 kids. Volunteers have already begun to arrive at Cheer Board headquarters, located at 550-1395 Ellice Ave. at Milt Stegall Drive, though more will certainly be needed to pack and deliver hampers. Madsen says about 4,000 volunteers of all ages make it all happen, from the groups of school children who volunteer to pack hampers to the more than 2,000 volunteer drivers who deliver them. Hampers are sponsored by individuals, community groups, families and local businesses. To donate or volunteer, call the Christmas Cheer Board office in Winnipeg at 204-948-2022.

Friday November 29 Wine & Cheese Evening, 7 to 9 pm Tickets $30, or members free Saturday November 30 & Sunday December 1st CRAFTSALE from 12 to 5 pm Saturday November 30 between 12 and 5 pm, family activities , Père & Mère Nöel and photos Saturday November 30 Christmas caroling between 6 and 8 pm, fire outside to warm up with hot chocolate & apple cider Sunday, December 1st between 12 and 5 pm, family activities, Père & Mère Nöel and photos, and a concert by Les Petits Intrépides

204-237-4500 info@msbm.mb.ca • www.msbm.mb.ca

Admission is by donation, with half of the proceeds going to the local Christmas Food Hampers.

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