CALEB NICKERSON
SHAWVILLE Nov. 18, 2020
The Shawville Santa Claus parade will likely go ahead this year, as long as the region retains its orange zone designation. However, as Shawville councillor Patty Moffatt explained in an interview with THE EQUITY, there will be some modifications from previous years. The parade traditionally takes place on the last Saturday of November, which falls on the 28th this year.
“If we go to red, everything’s off the table, we can’t do anything,” she said. “But we have the support of the police and the full council as long as it’s orange.”
She explained that the route was extended in order to . . .
reach communities that might have been missed by the normal route.
“The big thing is they don’t want large groups of people pooling together. The police are very concerned about that, so by making the route longer, we’re giving ample opportunity for people to even stay in their homes when we’re going through some of the neighbourhoods,” she said.
Moffatt added that there are plenty of parking spots along the route, particularly up by the hospital or at Pontiac High School, which will allow families to enjoy the festivities from their vehicles.
The Shawville Lions, who are the main organizers of the parade, have also decided to hold it at 3 p.m. rather than in the evening like usual.
“The downtown merchants are having a Shop Shawville event on that day until about 2 o’clock,” Moffatt explained. “They approached the Lions and asked if they would consider doing a daytime parade right after their event in the hopes of bringing more people downtown.”
The meet and greet with Santa Claus will also not be taking place. Moffatt added that people putting floats in will also be asked to observe public health guidelines and no candy will be distributed.
“You can’t put 40 kids on a float like you might have done in previous years,” she said.
The parade will end at the PPJ area adjacent to Railroad Street.
The town’s tree-lighting ceremony traditionally takes place the Friday evening before (Nov. 27 this year) will be going forward as well, although participants will not be carolling on the way to Veterans Memorial Park. Attendees will be asked to maintain their distance and snacks will not be distributed like previous years.
