Toronto Santa Claus Parade

Toronto Santa Claus Parade
A Float in the 2009 Parade
Format	Parade
Created by	Eaton's
Starring	Ken Shaw and Melissa Grelo 2010-present - CFTO TV/CP24 Rosey Edeh (2009) and Leslie Roberts 2005-2009 - Global Toronto Faye Dance, Sandy Hoyt (1985-1997) and Susan Hay (1990s until 2008) - Global Toronto
Country of origin	Canada
Language(s)	English
No. of episodes	107 (as of November 20, 2011)
Production
Location(s)	downtown Toronto from Christie Pits along Bloor Street West, south on Avenue Road/Queen's Park Cresent/University Avenue to Front Street West, east along Front to St. Lawrence Market
Running time	3 Hours (with commercials)
Production company(s)	Eaton's 1905-1977 various corporate sponsors 1982-present CTV (media since 2010)
Broadcast
Original channel	CTV 2010-present Global TV 1982-2009 CBC 1952-1981
Original run	1952 – present
External links
Website

Eaton's Santa Claus Parade, 1918, Toronto, Ontario. Having arrived at the Eaton's store, Santa is readying his ladder to climb up onto the building.

A Float in the 2009 Parade in Toronto, Canada

The Toronto Santa Claus Parade is a Santa Claus parade held annually in mid-November in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. More than a half million people attend the parade every year. The parade starts at 12:30pm and ends approximately 3:30pm. Televsion coverage begins at 1:30pm and re-broadcasts again after 4pm following the end of the parade.

History

The Toronto Santa Claus Parade was started on December 2, 1905 by the Eaton's chain of department stores, with just a single float. It now has over 25 floats, 24 bands, and 1,700 participants. The parade is almost 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi) long and can be seen anywhere along this route. It is one of the biggest productions in North America and the oldest annual parade in the world.^{[citation needed]}

From 1925 to the 1970s, the floats from the parade were reused in Montreal. This arrangement was cancelled due to the FLQ Crisis.

Near demise and revival

Eaton's association with the parade ended in 1982 and almost led to the parade's demise. Businessmen led by George Cohon (of McDonald's Restaurants of Canada) and 20 corporate sponsors stepped in to save the parade. Cohon remains co-chair of the parade organization. Today the parade is funded by various corporate sponsors (including McDonalds, Canadian Tire, Lowes, Sears Canada, and Tim Horton's) that are featured in the floats.

Changes

In 1983 the Celebrity Clowns began and remains a tradition of the parade today.

In 2011, the parade did not pass down Yonge Street (via Dundas Street West), ending the tradition of passing by the Toronto Eaton Centre, once home to the parade's former sponsor. The pancake breakfast continues to be held at the Eaton Centre, which is one of several corporate sponsors.

Broadcasting

On April 6, 2010, It was announced that a new deal was reached that would see CTV stations nation-wide, along with CTV-owned Toronto-based 24-hour news channel CP24, would air live coverage of the parade for three years, going to 2012.

CP24 will air the parade live from 1:30 - 3:30 pm, CTV stations in Ontario and Quebec will air the parade at 4:30 pm. CTV stations in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia will air the parade at 4:00 pm, and CTV-owned CTV Two Atlantic will air the parade at 5:00 pm.

Previously, the parade was carried in Canada by Global Television, and broadcast to several other countries, including New Zealand, Ireland and Norway, primarily by broadcasters owned by or affiliated with Global's parent company CanWest from 1984-2009. From 1952 to 1983 the parade was broadcasted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation TV. The parade has been heard on radio from CFRB (1930s-1950s) to and CBC Radio (beginning 1950s) to CHFI-FM (current broadcaster) as alternatives to live television coverage.

It was also carried in the United States by CBS for many years as part of its All American Thanksgiving Day Parade coverage, since it coincided with American Thanksgiving.

Between 1989 to 1991 the parade was broadcasted to the Soviet Union. Today the parade is shown through Canada and as far as New Zealand, Norway and Ireland.

Closure and access

Streets around the downtown core are shut down from morning to afternoon of the day of the parade. While some parking is available, organizers encourage the public to take public transit. GO Transit (via Union Station) and Toronto Transit Commission's subway stations provide access to the parade route.

External links

• 1953 'Eaton's Santa Claus Parade'
• The Santa Claus Parade Turns 100
• Toronto Santa Claus Parade official website

Multimedia

• History of the Toronto parade
• Global TV 2009 Santa Claus Parade site
• CBC Archives CBC Radio report from 1957 on the parade