YORKTON – There’s nothing like a little unseasonable warm weather to tick up community spirit a notch.
That was certainly evident Nov. 23, when the evening weather was warm and people seemed eager to escape from their television sets and instead lined Broadway Street for the annual Santa Claus Parade.
The Legacy Co-op sponsored parade has become something of an official kick-off to the holiday season in the city so it was great to see so many out for the event.
A big tip of the chapeau to the Yorkton Business Improvement District who did all the elf work behind the scenes to organize the parade.
They had set a goal of 60 entries, and in the end there was nearly 80, which of course added to the success greatly.
When one is in business – especially as the holiday season approaches – there is never a shortage of things to do, so those that entered to parade, strung lights over farm tractors, put seasonal blow-ups in the back of half tons, or went all out with seasonally specific floats – thank you. Your combined efforts brought a lot of smiles to the many lining the streets.
Of course the parade was just the culmination of a broader Santa Day in the city, which started with a free pancake breakfast with Santa at the Yorkton Fire Hall, and then a free Christmas movie matinee at the Tower Theatre.
It was a great day of community spirit by organizers, participants and viewers, and anytime the city comes together in such a joyous way is a good thing.
And, while it might be a tad colder, that spirit will hopefully shine through again this Saturday as the CPKC Holiday Train is set to arrive in the city.
While the train is another visual representation of the holiday season that will create many smiles, it is of course on a rather serious mission as well. The CPKC Holiday Train is also about raising money, food and awareness to support food banks across the country.
Locally, we are aware of the need which seems to grow bigger by the year.
Major Laurie Reilly with the local Salvation Army noted the demand for family food hampers is certainly there, saying they have received “at least 50 more,” taking them well over 300.
Likewise, as a community we know there are more homeless in the city than there has been – maybe ever – and with snow now on the ground their plight is heightened, so efforts such at the CPKC Train are much appreciated. Hopefully the crowd will be large and their food donations larger still.
It all goes into being a caring community drawn closer together by the season and its associated events.
