Council finds money to fund Santa Claus parade

NEW GLASGOW – Town council has approved funding for the Santa Claus parade.
Council agreed Monday to reallocate funds amounting to $2,420 from the general budget to cover traffic control by policing and in-kind public works services used during the parade.
This year’s parade will take place Nov. 18 starting at 2 p.m.
“This is something that’s really needed in the community,” Coun. Henderson Paris said.
Reaction swirled Monday after parade chairperson Paul Munro-Fraser issued an email to parade participants indicating that the event would be cancelled due to cuts in the town’s budget approved earlier this year.
She said the town made the decision not to have the parade due to financial constraints and expressed the hope that the parade would resume in the future.
Mayor Barrie MacMillan asked council to add the parade matter to the agenda during a committee-of-the-whole meeting that followed the regular council meeting Monday.
During the discussion, town CAO Lisa MacDonald outlined where council could find the money from general revenues to support the parade, which includes $1,500 for policing and $900 public works duties.
“We have informed the parade committee of this support and look forward to working with them to have another successful parade,” MacMillan said in a statement released Tuesday.
Fire Chief Doug Dort said the New Glasgow Fire Department will support the parade through its volunteers and will start working immediately on the parade with community representatives and town officials.
“We hope to provide support that will help the community and make the parade sustainable for many years to come,” Dort said.
Munro-Fraser is pleased with the town’s support.
“We will also be working together with the New Glasgow Fire Department to co-ordinate a great parade and will also be looking to the business community for its usual support to help fund parade operations such as costs associated with bands, awards, candy, etc,” she said.
Munro-Fraser and Trevor MacDonald from the fire department will co-chair the event.