Close to 200 villagers lined the streets of Clyde to watch a small but enthusiastic group of paraders make their through the streets last Sunday evening.
The seventh annual Clyde Santa Claus Parade was by all measures a success — the weather wasn’t too cool, the bonfire wasn’t too hot and the hot chocolate was just right.
“I think it’s great. The turnout is great, and the effort that the Parks and Play Committee puts in to make this happen is excellent,” mayor Doug Nyal said. “They do a lot of work to help keep the community spirit alive.”
The spirit was certainly alive, with an enthusiastic crowd cheering the arrival of Santa Claus himself in the parade and the rest of the dozen entries this year. A brief but impressive fireworks show followed the parade, then residents got the change to grab some hot chocolate and take a turn offering Santa their wish list.
MLA Maureen Kubinec said she’d been “pretty nice” this year, but regardless may be the one doling out gifts this year — grant applications for the Community Facilities Enhancement Program and the Community Initiatives Program fall under her purview as Alberta Minister of Culture and Tourism, and the deadline is coming up soon.
“That’s such a great opportunity to build community,” she said. “Those grants go to not-for-profit organizations that help build community like Clyde Parks and Play.”
She had nothing but praise for the event itself, noting it speaks volumes about the entire community, not just the organizers.
“It’s such a good opportunity to be together,” Kubinec said. “It’s a nice little village and it’s nice to see the residents want to come out and celebrate the start of the holiday season together.”
For nine-year-old Noah Rigney, who was keeping himself warm next to a roaring bonfire, the highlight of the festivities was the parade.
“My favourite was probably the ag society’s float, because my sister was on it,” he said.
He thinks he’s been nice enough to warrant a present from Santa this year, and said he’s hoping for a Montreal Canadians baseball cap — like many Edmonton-area hockey fans he’s found a team to support that won’t continually disappoint.
As for Nyal, he said it’s not easy to tell one way or the other if he’s been naughty or nice.
“It depends on who you ask if I’m been naughty or nice,” he said. “It’s been a tough year on everybody.”
There has been some degree of acrimony this year as the village undergoes a viability review, which the provincial government used to call a dissolution study.
One way or the other, he said he hopes to see the village move forward as that process wraps up next year, and he’s expecting more great things from Clyde in the New Year.
“Community Spirit is very healthy in the village of Clyde,” he said. “It’s things like this that keep the community spirit going, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
