Canada kick's off Christmas around the world with the Santa Claus Parade

Photo courtesy Santa Claus Parade Toronto, Ontario - The annual Santa Claus Parade is enjoyed by television viewing families from Norway to New Zealand. It was started in 1905 as a publicity stunt by the Timothy Eaton Department store. The first year Santa arrived on foot, but by 1910 he was in a carriage was drawn by 8 reindeer imported from Labrador. With funding by Eaton's for 77 years, the parade continued to grow in popularity and size, adding floats with nursery rhyme characters, bands, etc. Today it's a not-for-profit organization, which receives funding from Canadian Corporations, including 100 executives who contribute $1000 each year to dress as 'celebrity' clowns. About 1500 volunteers man elaborate floats, march in bands, and participate as clowns and costumed characters. They lead Santa past about a half-million people who line the streets of Toronto for the annual mid-November event. Each year, 13,000 volunteers at Canada Post help with the more than one million children from around the world who write to: Santa Claus North Pole, Canada, H0H 0H0. Where: The parade starts at Bloor and Christie Sts and goes east on Bloor to Avenue Rd. then south and around Queen's Park, continuing down University Ave to Queen St. It then goes east in front of the Sheraton Hotel, past City Hall, to Yonge St, and south on Yonge to Front. At Front St. it goes east and ends at Church St. Quick Tip: The 2008 Parade starts at 12.30 on Sunday November 16. More Ontario Cool swim with polar bears l Avril Lavigne l 007 l basketball inventor l world’s longest skating rink l Mike Myers l Neutrino Observatory 2 km below ground l Rolling Stone rehersals l original Mac l world's Most Lilacs l Superman l first long-distance telephone call l bank towers covered in gold l insulin l Barenaked Ladies l longest street in the world l the Blackberry l 10,000 butterflies l Napoleon’s dirty socks l Terry Fox l 5000 canoes & kayaks For Better or for Worse l Uncle Tom's Cabin l Hollywood North l world’s largest undergrown shopping complex (27 km) l invention of Pablum l Shania Twain l Winnie the Pooh l world’s most connected canoe routes l ice wine l world's longest freshwater beach l Bethune Click on the Canada Cool Map and discover destinations nation wide that make Canada Cool

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