December 2010 - The Bulletin Magazine

More documents

Recommendations

Info

CIRCLES: Santa Comes to Town by Vicki Pinkerton As the shortest day of the year approaches, people turn their hearts outward and look to those around them. Just as the winter cold sends us indoors to hunker down awaiting the return of summer, we begin looking toward our communities for warmth and support. There is a generosity and light that beams around us as Christmas approaches and nowhere is that more apparent than in the annual Santa Claus parades. East Gwillimbury is a small town of approximately 22,000 people and yet we invite Santa to town twice during his busiest season. More remarkable than that, he shows up. Every year on the fourth Sunday in November, the East Gwillimbury Parade Committee hosts a parade in either Sharon or Holland Landing. On the first Saturday in December, the Mount Albert District Lions Club invites the big guy back to ride his sleigh through Mount Albert. This is probably the busiest time of year and so it is no small undertaking to pull the parades together. The committees form in January, after a short Christmas break, to make sure everything is in order for next year. Volunteers and elves work together to ensure that Santa has a great time during his visits and that everyone gets a chance to present their requests to the jolly old elf himself.. This time of glitz and glitter is about more than just presents. People love the parades because it gives them a chance to reconnect with friends and neighbours. It is also a reminder of what community effort can achieve. Music, floats and countless fire trucks bring warmth to the endeavor. A rendezvous for hot chocolate and good wishes follow. Santa gets a chance to meet the people he has been tracking in his naughty or nice book and to check how accurate his list is. Cold fingers and toes and the long wait to see Santa are a ritual for almost everyone who isn't in the parade. On the other hand, if you want your half hour of fame, you too can march, dance and wave your way to the end. If you are lucky you will see yourself on the evening news a few hours later. I remember each of my four children longing for a chance to be in the parade and then, after having their dream come true for several years running, they just wanted to just watch. Everyone comes out; businesses, schools, churches, service organizations, politicians, and families. People laugh and endure whatever weather shows up. The post office is there accepting letters that haven't already headed toward the North Pole. This event is remarkable in that it involves almost everyone in town, young and old. The parade volunteers and workers are a dedicated group, who work hard and wouldn't have it any other way. They are there for many reasons. The people I talked to said they just loved seeing the kids eyes light up when they actually see Santa waving from his sleigh. One woman told me that in her family, volunteering is a tradition. The Santa Claus parade is one place that her kids can join her on the front lines, working along side of the adults to help ensure a successful event. I heard from one busy elf that the reason Santa is so generous with his time in East Gwillimbury, is that he loves the idea of kids being a part of the whole thing, not only on floats, but also as float decorators and helpers. He supports anything that shows children their importance in the community. As I write this, summer is giving way to fall and the winter winds are sneaking around the corners of our houses. We have already seen our first snow, Halloween has come and gone and the time has changed. When I put in a call to the North Pole, I was told that Santa is too busy managing the workshop and getting ready for his many Yule time appearances to have a chance to speak to me personally for this article. A spokes elf did tell me that the jolly old guy believes that the greatest gift we can give at this time of year, is to look to our communities large and small, to embrace families and 28 The Bulletin | DECEMBER 2010 www.TheBulletinMagazine.com
friends and to reconnect with old friends while making new ones. He is proud to be a part of an event that gives us that gift. For more information or to volunteer for the East Gwillimbury parade, contact Town of East Gwillimbury Leisure Department at town@eastgwillimbury.ca or for the Mount Albert District Lions at 905-478-8863. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. I wish all of you, generous circles of community and friends in the year to come. I am putting together my articles for the New Year now. Let’s talk. What, or who makes your community? Where do your circles intersect? Let me know. Email bulletin@xplornet.com and put ‘Circles’ in the subject line. Vicki Pinkerton lives on a small farm just outside of Mount Albert when she is not driving the roads of Canada. She is a practicing life coach, a writer and adventurer who wonders about many things. www.questacrosscanada.com www.TheBulletinMagazine.com DECEMBER 2010 | The Bulletin 29
Page 1 and 2: www.TheBulletinMagazine.com THE Bul
Page 3 and 4: CONTENTS IN EACH ISSUE 6 WHAT’S O
Page 5 and 6: 905-478-4022 OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK SPE
Page 7 and 8: Saturday December 11 Holt Free Meth
Page 9 and 10: Peace on Earth, Good-will to all! T
Page 11 and 12: decorating Staging Your Way to Happ
Page 13 and 14: Seasons Greetings from your Local M
Page 15 and 16: Merry Christmas from Harrogate Hill
Page 17 and 18: Candy Canes History of a long-time
Page 19 and 20: Reindeer Flight Mix Everyone knows
Page 21: www.TheBulletinMagazine.com DECEMBE
Page 24 and 25: WORRIED ABOUT POOR WATER QUALITY? B
Page 26 and 27: Environmentally friendly recycling
Page 30 and 31: in the garden Tropical Garden Explo
Page 32 and 33: e.g. athletes EG Peewee A Rep Hocke
Page 34 and 35: December 2010 By Anne Hill hort hap
Page 36 and 37: TIM HORTON’S FIRST NIGHT NEWMARKE
Page 38 and 39: East Gwillimbury Skating 2010/11: E

December 2010 - The Bulletin Magazine

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?