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Santa will parade in Hay River after all

Kristen Campbell
Northern News Services
Published Monday, December 12, 2011

HAY RIVER
It turns out Hay River will be getting a Santa Claus parade after all.

With the parade only a few days away, organizer Cindy Wilgosh is thrilled how quickly things came together.

The parade is scheduled for this Friday evening and Wilgosh said she only began planning last Wednesday, after reading last week one was not planned for this year.

"It was about half an hour, 45 minutes after I read there wasn't going to be a parade that I thought, 'how hard can this be'."

And it turns out, not hard at all.

She is keeping the number of floats a secret, but she said she is very pleased with the community's response and co-operation.

"Originally, I thought if we have one float and a couple fire trucks and the police, we'd have a parade," she said. "But we are well beyond that."

She added that nearly every person she has spoken to about the parade has offered to help, and without the assistance of people such as Mona Potter, she said the word never would have spread around town.

"The hardest part was getting the word out," said Wilgosh. "I am so thankful for the people who stepped up, and there were a lot of them. It's amazing."

Mayor Kelly Schofield was equally thrilled upon hearing the news the town would not be without a parade for the second year in a row.

"I love the fact that we are going to have a parade," he said. "And the fact that it is a grassroots initiative is incredible," he said. "It is great to see that the community spirit stays alive and the Christmas spirit flourishes."

The parade is set to start at 7 p.m. on Friday, and all floats are asked to be lined up at 6 p.m. in front of Keith's Water Service.

The route will conclude at NorthMart.

There is also still time to help the parade grow.

"We are totally welcoming last minute floats," said Wilgosh.

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