Battersea, Ontario. Celebrates Second Santa Claus Parade – Kingston | The Canadian News

The residents of Battersea Township, Ontario, were all smiles with the arrival of the man in red this Sunday, when the second Battersea Santa Claus Parade was held.

South Frontenac Township Mayor Ron Vandewal said he was “excited to see him again and excited for the community … just to get together and get things done.”

The parade came to town from Storrington Public School, circling the Creekside Bar and Grill.

“Last year, with the cancellation of the Kingston parade, I asked some of my other friends and small businesses in the area, ‘Why don’t we put in some floats and drive down the road and see what happens?’” He said. Creekside owner and show organizer Kyle Gordon.

Last year’s impromptu parade featured eight floats by members of the local community. This year, Gordon said there were at least 17.

“I was impressed by the support from the community this year,” he said.

Along the route, Gordon collected food and cash donations from community members for Battersea United Church, and piled them into a motorboat attached to his truck.

“After the donations this community raised today, I feel a tingle right now just thinking about it,” Gordon said. “My ship was overflowing with donations and we even received cash donations too. And that’s what it was all about. It was about putting smiles on people’s faces and helping our community. “

Gordon personally delivered the donations to Reverend Heather McLurg-Murphy at the church, who was amazed at the amount of donations.

“The community came together in the parade today and will help us immensely,” McLurg-Murphy said Sunday.

The church plans to give food and gifts to 27 families living in the community.

With the growing success of this parade, Gordon said he has no plans to slow things down for years to come.