Food Bank Chairman nominated to marshall Santa Claus parade in Downtown Timmins
Rick Young is the chairman of the Timmins Food Bank and the people organizing this year's Santa Claus Parade in the Downtown have nominated him to be the parade marshall.
While he said it's an honour, he also feels guilty for the attention because it's the volunteers who are making him look good.
"These people are doing the work and I enjoy what I’m doing and I really do it not for recognition. It’s because people are in need in Timmins and the need is there and as long as I can keep doing it I’ll do it.”
Parade-goers will see Young standing in the back of his pick up truck waving and saying thank you to those watching the parade while volunteers collect food and cash donations.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic has had a big impact on the Food Bank's supplies and anything people in attendance at the parade can donate will be a big help.
“The sad part I don’t like is there’s a lot of elderly people and to me that’s just not right. They’re proud. They don’t like to come and use the food bank but they’re forced to and it’s sad to see that," said Young.
The theme of this year's Santa Claus parade is North Pole Fantasy and despite the harsh reality that there are many people in need in Timmins, organizers say people area excited to take in the parade after not having one last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"One of our largest parades ever, said Cindy Campbell, executive director of Downtown Timmins BIA "Fifty-five entries: service clubs, private industry, not-for-profits--we couldn’t have asked for a better mix. Lots of music, lots of dancing and of course the jolly old man himself at the very end wishing everybody the best.”
A local radio station will also be collecting socks; and Canada Nickel is collecting unwrapped new toys--all to be given to people in need.
Judges will award a two-hundred and fifty dollar cash prize to the best float.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Alice Munro, Nobel literature winner revered as short story master, dead at 92
Nobel laureate Alice Munro, the Canadian literary giant who became one of the world's most esteemed contemporary authors and one of history's most honoured short story writers, has died at age 92.
Latest updates on air quality alerts, and when the smoke may reach Ontario and Quebec
Wildfires have led Environment Canada to issue air quality advisories for parts of B.C., Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories, as forecasters warn the smoke could drift farther east.
Are these Canada's best restaurants? Annual top 100 list revealed
The annual list of Canada's top restaurants in the country was just released and here are the places that made the 2024 cut.
Attack on prison van in France kills 2 officers, inmate escapes
Armed assailants killed two French prison officers and seriously wounded three others in an attack on a convoy in Normandy on Tuesday and an inmate escaped, officials said.
Steal a car, lose your driver's licence for 10 years under new Ontario proposal
Repeat car thieves may face lengthy licence bans under proposed changes to Ontario’s Highway Traffic Act.
$1.6B parts plant for Honda electric vehicle batteries coming to Niagara Region
A Japanese company has announced it will build an approximately $1.6-billion plant in Ontario's Niagara Region that will make a key electric vehicle battery component as part of Honda's supply chain in the province.
B.C. brings in law on name changes on day that child killer's new identity revealed
The BC NDP have tabled legislation aimed at stopping people who have committed certain heinous acts from changing their names.
Manitoba premier to visit areas impacted by wildfire
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew will get a close-up look at the devastation from a large wildfire burning in northern Manitoba Tuesday.
1 killed, 3 injured including toddler, after Hwy. 417 crash in Ottawa
Ontario Provincial Police are responding to a fatal collision involving two vehicles on Highway 417 in Ottawa's west end on Tuesday morning.