Steve Hinder will be Santa again this year. He was for a number of years. Then the day before the Parade in the first year of the last term he received a call informing him his standing invitation had been withdrawn. A staff person was the one to bring the good tidings.
I heard the in-coming Mayor's husband took his place.
I was reminded by e-mails that just came up on my screen .
Staff had forwarded a request for an amended road closure for the day of the Parade. It currently calls for closure from St John's Sideroad to Orchard Heights..
The memo noted the request for closure to Wellington Street from 3P.M. The amendment is for safety reasons which have been brought to their attention.The police enforce the closures. I assume they have input into where they should be and advise town staff accordingly.
Councillor Gaertner immediately sent her strenuous objection to the amendment.It will be a hardship to businesses in the area in her judgment.
Councillor Granger followed up almost immediately with his objection. Why is the change being recommended this late? Why wasn't it known before?
Councillor Wilson added his objection. and now the out-going Mayor has joined the chorus.
I admit to finding it difficult to follow the logic. The reason given for the change is public safety.Can that be so easily dismissed.
The Economic justification for a Santa Claus Parade is to stimulate Christmas shopping.
Theoretically at least, the Parade is for the benefit of businesses. Why would they object to the street being closed for the Santa Claus Parade being held for their benefit?
Ah,,,but businesses are not objecting. Councillors Gaertner Granger and Wilson and now the Mayor are the concerned parties.
The Santa Claus Parade is about forty years old. At any time during those years, it would have been easy for any business owner to inform Council they objected to the Santa Claus Parade because of detriment to their business.
Council would certainly have been obliged to take the argument seriously.The fun for children in the community would not have taken precedence over the interest of tax- paying businesses. Who would have a right to argue against opportunity denied at such a critical time.
No such objection have ever been made that I am aware.
Until now ...and these objections are not from businesses.
Thursday, 18 November 2010
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9 comments:
Evelyn, I have a question. Do any of the businesses in town sponsor the parade or the floats? If they do, might they not have an opinion about its safety and continued success? Do we know the reason behind the request? You would think that the parade route would have been established months ago in the early planning stages. Before a final decision is made shouldn't we know what and why these concerns have come to the forefront at this late date?
I ask because it has been many years since I have been to one. I am not a parade kind of girl, although I did take the kids when they were little. They don't need me to tag along anymore if they want to go. Although, there may be some poetic justice in having me along so they can listen to my complaints about my aching back, cold feet and need to pee. Yeah, a little pay back, that might be fun.
Cheers,
Luckywife
Maybe the Santa Claus parade could be cancelled and in its place 'Gator wrestling.'
The obvious three opponents of the 'gators, and these would be giant ones, would be councillors "Windy" Wendy, "Stranger" Granger and "Just Plain Dumb" Wilson.
Whatever bits and pieces were left over could form a new bit of Aurora's history display in the basement of our town's Cultural Centre.
The only problem with the above is that "Windy" might somehow seduce the 'gators in letting her remain in one piece and then her brilliance would annoy us all for another four years. Become a blond, "Windy" - you might just have more fun.
The parade is at night. The businesses that are there are closed when the parade is on (except for the restuarant-type businesses). How does the parade help the businesses anyways? Do you see floats from Vic's Shoe Repair or LW? No - Our downtown is a pitiful example. Unless the business is a lawyer, doctor or dentist, your lifespan is limited. The hardware store exists because - I don't know why - it's a terrible store to find anything.
Move the parade to the Walmart plaza or Bayview if you want to help business.
Scrooges all of them.
They are just plain nasty even at Christmas time.
Are you telling me it is not the real Santa up there?
Councilor Gaertner immediately sent her strenuous objection to the amendment. It will be a hardship to businesses in the area in her judgment.
Once again the melodramatic , over reactive and off the wall mentality continues to spew forth , Don't you just wish for once it would be a positive remark with some value added commentary like let’s hope for good weather or could every one bring a little something for the food bank ,or better still lets promote the hell out of this event so all the parade goers can buy a coffee or sandwich from Gabriel’s or any number of other vendors along the route and downtown core. It’s time to wake up .A new day has Dawed !!!!
Santa will be at the parade.
My suggestion is that for one night many people let go of their myths and beliefs ...
... and then re-evaluate them in the morning.
I'm saying such a thing because I do believe that people can change and they can support things they used to see as a problem.
Or they can honestly say that what they saw as a problem last month is still a problem.
What I really believe is that with the new Council, there will be a chance to express those opposing views.
But let's leave it out of the Santa Claus Parade.
Let's let the kids be childish. The adults know how to wait.
EB
The GO6 should be looking for a
SANITY CLAUSE .....
Best of the season to everyone ......young,old,gifted,creed,culture,faith,etc,etc,etc.....
"What a wonderful world"
Anonymous 5:22 PM
"A new day has Dawed"
Woohoo! Good one.
How about on the 29th of November, "Can't wait for Tomorris"?
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