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continued from p.1 This year's parade theme is Once Upon a Christmas for the approximately 50 floats and spectators can look for that from twotime parade float winner, the Oakville Academy for the Arts. "It's an amazing float based on Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer , the Burl Ives original, with the abominable snowman hanging over snow mountain. They've built the Burl Ives snowman with the scarf and the hat. It's fantastic. They'll also have kids and dancers on the float as the toymakers," said Schoonderwoerd. Toronto Rock lacrosse cheerleaders will join the parade as will Oakville Olympian Kyle Jones, in a 1952 red pickup truck. Floats will be judged by a committee, while residents can vote online after the parade at www.oakvillesantaclausparade.ca for the People's Choice Award for best float and band. Bands this year will include the Halton Regional Police Service Pipes & Drums, Optimists Alumni Drum Corps, Magnolia Brass, HMCS Star and Top Hat Marching Orchestra, as well as the White Oaks Secondary School marching band and Burlington's M.M. Robinson Drumline. But it's community spirit that makes the parade special, said Schoonderwoerd. "The parade is run all by volunteers so it has a community spirit component, but also we're so focused on helpFrom left, Oakville firefighters Alvin Jones, Acting Captain Joanne Blanchette, Brian ing everyone in our community," she said. "Not everyone is fortuRobertson and Brian Kamphius invite you to donate. For 12 years, the Oakville Pronate at Christmas, and sometimes all year, so celebrating Christfessional Firefighters Association Toy Drive has helped give kids a Christmas. The drive mas is about giving back and coming together as a community." To that end, the Kin Club of Oakville is challenging parade- kicks off Saturday at the Oakville Santa Claus Parade and donations will be accepted through Dec. 18 at local fire stations. goers to `stuff' an Oakville Transit bus, which will make its way | photo by Nikki Wesley ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) along the parade route with volunteers collecting non-perishable food items and cash donations for the Salvation Army. Now accepting Oakville firefighters will also be applications collecting new, unwrapped toys with for September gifts for older children especially needed. A wish list is available at www. oakvillefirefighterstoydrive.com. "We really want to make sure everyone is included and we don't forget people who need food or kids who need toys -- it's just a really important part of the holiday season. I think the parade is a great place to showcase I want to better the world around me by that. We bring everyone together and designing and building an energy efficient it's a perfect place to help those who car that will not affect the environment need it," Schoonderwoerd said. in a bad way. The Fun Group of Families and Friends of Falgarwood will, for the - Current Student 19th year, sell red noses to raise $30,000 for the Wellspring Cancer Support Network Halton-Peel. We are accessible Clowns in red sweatshirts or aprons and affordable. will sell red noses for $2 -- and are Hillfield Strathallan College is an independent day school for Call Scott Barton Montessori Toddler and Pre-Kindergarten students to Grade 12. the only ones sanctioned to do so. Visit us at www.hsc.on.ca . 905-389-1367 The parade starts at 9 a.m. at Lake- Annual Santa parade kicks off the holiday season in Oakville shore Road and Reynolds Street, travelling west on Lakeshore to Kerr Street, north on Kerr and ending at Kerr and Stewart streets. Streets affected by road closures, from 7-11 a.m., include Lakeshore Road, Kerr and Stewart streets, Felan Avenue, Rebecca and Robinson streets. Details are on the parade website at oakvillesantaclausparade.ca. An Oakville Transit Santa Shuttle runs every 10 minutes from the Oakville GO station, 214 Cross Ave., to the Church and Dunn streets bus terminal between 8 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., with the last bus leaving downtown at approximately 11:25 a.m. Bus routes are also posted on the parade's website. Finally parade-goers are reminded to dress for the weather -- Saturday's forecast calls for cloudy periods and a high of 10 C (feeling like 8 C). 9 | Friday, November 15, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com AT HSC, MY ACADEMICS ARE ACCELERATED AND ENRICHED. 2014 · Falafel · Souvlaki · Shawarma · Taboule · Mediterranean Seafood. Hours Monday - Thursday 11am - 10pm Friday & Saturday 11am - 11pm Sunday Closed www.agabi.ca REBECCA ST. BE DONE FASTER. BE MERRY SOONER. North East corner of Third Line & Rebecca southoakvillecentre.com AGABI KERR ST. 234 Kerr St., Oakville 905.338.1888 SPEERS RD.