Toronto Santa Claus Parade



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 televised parade starts after noon and lasts about three hours.

History
The Toronto Santa Claus Parade was first held on December 2, 1905 with just a single float, and was operated and funded by the Eaton's chain of department stores. It now has over 25 floats, 24 bands, and 1,700 participants. The parade route is almost 5.6 km long. It is one of the biggest productions in North America and the oldest annual parade in the world.

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 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 McDonald's, Canadian Tire, Lowe's, Sears Canada, and Tim Horton's) which are featured in floats.

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

In 2011, the parade route moved its southbound leg from Yonge Street, via Dundas Street West, to Avenue Road, Queen's Park Crescent and University Avenue. Thus ending the tradition of passing the Toronto Eaton Centre, once home to the parade's former sponsor. Eaton Centre, one of many parade sponsors, continues to host the pancake breakfast.



Broadcasting
From 1952 to 1983, CBC-TV broadcast the parade. The parade aired on CFRB radio from the 1930s through the 1950s and then on CBC Radio. The 2010 parade also aired on CP24 Radio 1050 which at the time operated a TV simulcast with CP24, current broadcaster CHFI-FM.

Global Television carried the parade in Canada made the feed available in several other countries, including New Zealand, Ireland and Norway, primarily by broadcasters owned by or affiliated with Global's parent company CanWest between 1984 and 2009. The United States network CBS broadcast the parade as part of its All American Thanksgiving Day Parade coverage during American Thanksgiving, rotating its coverage between the Toronto Santa Claus Parade, Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, Hudson's Thanksgiving Parade, Gimbel's Thanksgiving Parade and later the Disneyland Stars Parade.

On April 6, 2010, CTV and parade organizers announced an agreement under which CTV stations nation-wide, along with CTV-owned Toronto-based 24-hour news channel CP24, would air live coverage of the parade through 2012.

Closure and access
Streets around the downtown core are closed from from approximately 8:00 a.m. through afternoon of parade day. While some parking is available, organizers encourage viewers to take public transit. GO Transit (via Union Station) and Toronto Transit Commission's subway stations provide access to the parade route.

Multimedia

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