Floats garner honours during last week's Santa Claus Parade

Bolton Braves Baseball was credited with having the best community float in last Saturday's Santa Claus Parade that made its way through the village.

It was a cold day for the parade in Bolton Dec. 1, but that didn't stop Santa Claus from making a triumphant return to the community.

And thousands of kids of all ages came out to greet him at the annual Kinsmen Santa Parade.

There were a record number of entries in the parade, and more people than ever to see the work the float builders put into their creations. Running from Queensgate to Centennial Drive along Queen Street, the parade lasted about 90 minutes.

Prizes were awarded for best theme float (Rainbow Academy), best community float, (Bolton Braves Baseball), and best noncommercial float (Bolton YMCA). Commercial floats are not awarded prizes, but there were some great entries there as well. Much appreciated was the loan of cars and trucks from Cavalier, SW Stoneworks, Cedar Hills Pontiac Buick, Fines Ford and Summit Dodge.

Kinsmen Club of Bolton members, with parade chairman Bob Edmonds, organized and managed the parade and as always, it was local businesses that made it all possible with their financial support. Much of the work in building floats is volunteer based, but material costs and providing bands is a costly affair as it is parades like this that raise the supporting funds for these organizations. In all, 63 companies funded the parade with major backing by Husky Injection Molding Systems Ltd., Mars Canada Inc., Bel Air Lumber, Cedar Hills Pontiac Buick Cadillac Inc. Mars also supplied the chocolate bars and candy handed out along the route.

Year in, year out, there are regular supporters of the parade, including Anker Quality Meats; B. W. Cooney and Associates; Baffo's Restaurant; Bank of Montreal; Bolton Dry Cleaners; Bolton Florists Inc.; Canadian Tire Associate Store H.A. Robbins Automotive Industries Inc.; Caruso's Gourmet Pizza; Cavalier Transportation Services Inc.; Dr. C. G. Nicol, O.D.; Drs. Bettio and Malchuk; Egan Funeral Home; Excel Cleaners; Expert Cleaners; Fernview Construction Limited; Fines Ford and Mercury Sales Ltd.; Garden Foods Limited; House of Chung; Humber Valley Dental; Jack D. Stewart Investment Services Limited; James Dick Construction; Madelmo Foods Ltd. (Harvey's); Majestic Memorials (Caledon Contracting Ltd.); Panson Electrical Services; Perfect Complexions; Phelan Brothers Distribution; Rovili's Petworld; Scotiabank; and Zehrs Markets.

This year, Kinsmen were thankful and delighted to find and welcome new supporters in Avenue Building Corporation; B.I.T Jewellery Design; Blu-Mar Excavating and Grading; Bolton Electric Company Inc.; BP Landscaping and Snow Removal; Bulk Barn; Calm Waters; CGC Contracting Inc; Cheeks Homemade Burgers and Good Eats; Chef Talk; Dr. Howath and Dr. Lindsay; Facin Shoes; Giant Tiger; Hawkstone Sports; ICI Paints; Joseph D. DeCaria, Barrister and Solicitor; Klementine; Marrex Construction and Excavating Ltd.; Mercato Fine Foods; Mr. Sub; Nu- Yu; Silcotech North America Inc.; SouthView Chiropractic and Wellness Centre; Staples Business Depot; State Farm; The Mortgage Centre; Unique Boutique; UPS Store, Wal- Mart; and Wild Wing Bolton Inc.