Winnipeg's Santa Claus parade in jeopardy of being cancelled after 108 years

Santa Claus might not be coming to town for the first time in 108 years, unless the organizers of theWinnipeg Santa Claus Parade can come up with $68,000 to fix the big man's float.

The parade's board of directors says they needto raise that amount byOct. 5 or they won't be able to hold theNov. 17 event.

Sadly, astime is ticking,without the necessary funding, the parade simply will not be able to operate- RennieZegalski

Santa'sfloat wasdeclared unsafe earlier this yearand plans for building a replacement were put into motion after securing a new sponsorship.

The original float was built on a structure created out of old Eaton's department store billboardsbut extreme winter temperatures and decades of wear and tear has left it damaged beyond repair, parade director MonicaDerksensaid.

The decor is also crumbling and the snowmen are disintegrating, she said.

In April 2018, the parade's new sponsorship was rescinded,leaving a big gap in the fundraising campaign.

A$100,000 GoFundMe campaign was then launched to secure the parade's future but it is still $68,000 short, saysa news release from the parade committee.

"We are so passionate about this storied and historic Winnipeg event and we sincerely hope wesee this tradition continue," said Rennie Zegalski, chair of the Santa Claus Parade board.

"Sadly, astime is ticking,without the necessary funding, the parade simply will not be able to operate."

Parade history

Eaton's Department Store held its first Santa Claus Parade in 1905 in Toronto and it was so successful that in 1909, Eaton's started parades in Montreal and Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Santa Claus Parade website says on its history page.

Due to rising costs, Eaton's in Winnipeg organized its last parade in 1965. Capt. George Smith of the East Kildonan Fire Department, on behalf of the Winnipeg Firefighters Club, bought the parade from Eaton's for $1.50, the website says. That marked the startof the community-based format the paradestill followsto this day.

From 1966 to 1975, Winnipeg firefighters worked closely with volunteers from schools around the citytocarry on the parade tradition. In 1975, the Winnipeg Jaycees, now JCI Winnipeg, took over the stewardship of the parade, the site says.

In 1987, the Christmas Cheer Board began itsrelationship with theparade, collecting donations and non-perishable food items along the route.

In November 1998, the City of Winnipeg hosted the CFL's Grey Cup championship game, andManitoba Hydro, along with event organizers, organizeda Grey Cup paradein downtown.Hydro continued to sponsor an annual nighttime parade, the Power Smart Festival of Lights Parade, downtown from 1999 to 2005.

When the Grey Cup returned in 2006, JCI Winnipeg joined forces with theCity of Winnipeg and Manitoba Hydro, rolling their events into one bigSanta Claus Parade.

Annually, there are more than 75 entries floats and walking groups that totalmore than 3,000 participants, the website says.