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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, November 18, 2009 · 18 Santa parade is a Christmas tradition Continued from page 16 Address them to Santa Claus, North Pole, HOH OHO and postal carriers walking in the parade will collect them. Then, expect a response from Santa before Christmas. New this year, will be The Peoples' Choice Award to be awarded based on parade watchers' votes. After the parade, people can vote on the parade website at www.oakvillesantaclausparade.ca, casting a vote for their favourite parade entry. Voting will be open until 5 p.m. Nov. 25. Besides Santa and his eight tiny reindeer, the parade will feature a variety of floats from service clubs, charities, community organizations, sporting groups and local businesses. All Oakville schools have the chance to compete for the title of Best School Float -- and a grand prize of $500. Local schools are working hard to wrestle the title from St. Ignatius of Loyola, winner of the Best School Float award last year. "Santa's elves are putting in extra hours at the schools to see if they can take the title from Loyola," said Denise Copping, T.A Blakelock student and the parade's official school liaison. This year's participating bands will include the Halton Regional Police Service Pipes & Drums, Optimists Alumni Drum Corps, Merriam Music Percussion Ensemble, Prime Time Brass and the 540 Air Cadets. The world-famous Top Hat Marching Orchestra from Burlington will also be returning. Other musicians participating include the White Oaks Secondary School Marching Band Oakville's first and only school marching band, Burlington's M.M. Robinson Drumline. The ROTC Toronto (Righteously Outrageous Twirling Corp) is back, too, to form a modernday colour guard, twirling flags, spinning rifles, dancing and more. Two bands new this year will be the Magnolia Brass Band of Toronto, a traditional New Orleans style street parade band, and the Blue Saints Drum Corps from Sudbury. Hundreds of volunteers help make the parade a success walking the route as costumed characters or escorts or assisting with parade marshalling and logistics. Two special volunteers this year are longNIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER time volunteer Dee McAulay and her son, Carson, who has just returned from a tour in Santa arrives in town in last year's parade. Afghanistan and will be marshalling alongside his mom for the first time. "There's just no place like home, and after experiencing Afghanistan for a seven-month deployment, there is definitely no place like home. We have so much to be thankful for here in Oakville," said Carson. "Without volunteers, Parade Day would simply not happen," said Pam Damoff, chair of the parade. Parking shouldn't be a worry as Oakville Transit will run a free Santa Shuttle every 15 minutes from the Oakville GO station (Cross Avenue at Trafalgar Road) -- stopping at all regular stops along Reynolds to the Church/Dunn bus terminal. The Santa Shuttle will run from 8-11:15 a.m. Or, you can take the bus from home (cash fare is $3/person, kids five and under ride free). For schedules, visit www.oakvilletransit.com or call 905-815-2020. Some streets will be closed for the parade, including Lakeshore Road, Felan Avenue, Kerr, Stewart, Rebecca Street and Robinson streets. For more information, visit www.oakvillesantaclausparade.ca or call 905-815-5981.