It might only be September but the Thorold community needs to come together if it wants to save Christmas. Tonya Kornselen, the head of the Thorold Santa Claus Parade committee, is urgently putting out a call for volunteers. Says Kornelsen, “We are currently down to two people. The reality is that we can’t do it alone and one of the problems with relying on just a couple of people is that if something comes up or someone gets sick, then it is done.”
The 30th Thorold Santa Claus Parade is supposed to take place on Saturday, November 27 at 4:00pm this year, but without enough people to organize and help out the event might not go through at all. “We’re hoping we’ll be able to get enough people," says Kornelsen. “We’re looking for volunteers to be part of the committee which is just helping us plan it. Anything from helping us maintain our social media or web page, to helping organize and find entries and all the other safety and mechanics of it."
Kornelsen says the Santa Claus Parade has always been a special part of growing up in Thorold. ”I am a lifelong resident of Thorold so I attended it when I was young and then I’ve been bringing my own children, so we don’t want to see that die out.”
Kornelsen hopes she can rally the community and preserve the Thorold tradition that has meant so much to her. Says Kornelsen, “We want to be able to create a legacy. We want to have other people involved so that it can continue another 30 years into the future without putting a burden on one specific group of people.”
To get involved with the Santa Claus Parade you can email Tonya Kornelsen at [email protected].
