Source: Westman Zone News
Longtime Santa Parade organizer Karlheinz Sawatzky-Dyck wanted to ensure the parade would be in good hands before handing it off. He felt it was important to have a group who were not only committed to continuing the long-standing tradition in the Wheat City but also to see it plow ahead for years to come.
After many inquiries, careful consideration, and a few key meetings, he decided on the committee that currently handles the Westman and Area Traditional Christmas Dinner and Operation Red Nose. “They have a dedicated group of like-minded individuals with years of volunteer experience. They give me confidence that the parade will be in good hands.”
Gladden Smith is the chair of the group who has stepped up to take the reins of the Santa Parade, he says it’s a natural fit for the group to take on, “Karlheinz and I have talked for several years now and I told him we were interested in taking it over when the time comes and it all just kind of fell into place just before this year's parade,” Smith said.
This year’s Santa Parade drew a record number of floats (51) and the mild weather brought out record crowds estimated at approximately 4000 throughout the entire parade route. Smith was shadowing Karlheinz to learn the process of the Santa Parade from preparations to the actual parade itself. He even rode in a 4-wheeler following Santa’s float and said he was amazed to see the outpouring of support, “That to me means we have some big shoes to fill. Karlheinz and his family and their volunteers did an awesome job the past 24 years. So, I hope we can continue that. To those streets full of people cheering and happy while waving and expressing Christmas greetings to us, that’s such a special feeling,” Smith said.
A scene from the 2023 Brandon Santa Parade shows crowded sidewalks in downtown Brandon. An estimated 4000 people came downtown to see the Parade this year. (Photo credit: Westman Zone)
Much like the Westman and Area Traditional Christmas Dinner, the Brandon Santa Parade is renowned as a wonderful family tradition. Smith says his group is already working on ways to help the events complement each other, “We’d like to see the Christmas Dinner as well as Operation Red Nose amalgamate somehow with the parade because it is such a good fit. Moving forward I’m confident we can mesh all three together perfectly,” Smith said.
Front row from left to right: Westman and Area Traditional Christmas Dinner volunteers: Faye Beaule, Rick Beaule, Charlene Sutlic, Andre Sutlic. Back row: Santa Claus with WATC Chair Gladden Smith.
While plans are still in the preliminary stages there has been talk of a few upgrades, “We might do a few things to Santa’s float. It’s a pretty big float so we may do something a little bit different to utilize the space on it,” said Smith. Smith added, the main focus for his group right now is finishing off the Operation Red Nose campaign on a strong note while gearing up for another successful Westman and Area Traditional Christmas Dinner, “once we handle the dinner and ORN our committee will sit down in January to discuss plans for the Santa Parade whether it’s garnering sponsorships and getting more businesses involved by entering new floats. At this point our goal is to get more people and more groups involved to make it the biggest parade we can and make sure we put on a good show for all the kids and the families in Brandon,” said Smith.
Mr. and Mrs. Claus on their float getting ready to ride the Brandon Santa Parade route. (Photo credit: Westman Zone)
Help is still needed for the Westman and Area traditional Christmas Dinner. Here's how you can lend your support.
Westman and Area Traditional Christmas Dinner is still in need of donations such as cash, and unwrapped children’s toys, and volunteers are always welcome to help.
They’re also looking for a few more acts to fill the entertainment stage schedule. You can get more information by visiting their website www.traditionalchristmasdinner.ca or by calling 204-728-7987.
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