The media launch for the 100th annual Toronto Santa Claus Parade revealed the 2004 event would remind us of years past.
Event co-chairmen George Cohon (founder and former CEO of McDonald's Canada,) and Ron Barbaro (past chairman and C.E.O. of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation), were on hand to talk about some of the highlights of this year's parade and to draw attention to the many key players involved in its production.
The 2004 floats are designed to take us back to bygone days with recreations of favourite entries from yesteryear such as Clifford the Big Red Dog, Hockey Night in Canada, and Mother Goose. Those at the media launch praised the efforts of Alfred Iannarelli, parade general manager and creative director, who said, "This year's parade is different because this is the one that really celebrates 100 years. We get a chance to bring back some old floats and introduce some new ones."
Also at the launch, parade partner Canada Post Corporation unveiled three Santa-inspired stamps to mark the event's centennial. The stamps depict different vehicles Santa has ridden in during past parades ? a sled, a vintage train and a flashy convertible.
The media launch ended with a choral performance by students of the Claude Watson School for the Arts, an appearance by the young ambassadors from the Hospital for Sick Children dressed in costumes they will wear on parade day and a visit by St. Nick himself. A luncheon catered by Encore Food with Elegance followed the press conference.
—Robyn Small
Event co-chairmen George Cohon (founder and former CEO of McDonald's Canada,) and Ron Barbaro (past chairman and C.E.O. of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation), were on hand to talk about some of the highlights of this year's parade and to draw attention to the many key players involved in its production.
The 2004 floats are designed to take us back to bygone days with recreations of favourite entries from yesteryear such as Clifford the Big Red Dog, Hockey Night in Canada, and Mother Goose. Those at the media launch praised the efforts of Alfred Iannarelli, parade general manager and creative director, who said, "This year's parade is different because this is the one that really celebrates 100 years. We get a chance to bring back some old floats and introduce some new ones."
Also at the launch, parade partner Canada Post Corporation unveiled three Santa-inspired stamps to mark the event's centennial. The stamps depict different vehicles Santa has ridden in during past parades ? a sled, a vintage train and a flashy convertible.
The media launch ended with a choral performance by students of the Claude Watson School for the Arts, an appearance by the young ambassadors from the Hospital for Sick Children dressed in costumes they will wear on parade day and a visit by St. Nick himself. A luncheon catered by Encore Food with Elegance followed the press conference.
—Robyn Small
This year's 100th annual Santa Claus Parade in downtown Toronto will feature a reproduction of the Mother Goose float from the 1959 event. It was on display at the parade's media launch at Santa's Workshop.
The fairytale castle from Aladdin will be one of many floats in this year's parade.
