Santa's getting a new ride for his upcoming stop in Kitchener-Waterloo
Santa’s helpers are making a list and measuring twice.
The team, made up of staff and students from Conestoga College’s School of Trades and Apprenticeship in Waterloo, have volunteered their time to build and design a brand new sleigh for Old Saint Nick, which will debut at the KW Santa Claus Parade on Saturday, Nov. 16.
Up until this year, Santa had been riding on the same float since 1979.
Mary D’Alton, the chief fundraising officer for the KW Lions Club, said they felt it was time for the old float to retire.
“Poor Santa, came to us last year, said: ‘I don’t think I can make this float one more time.’”
So the Lions Club reached out to the college, who agreed to help build a new one.
“We were a little out of our comfort zone,” said Jeff Willsie, one of the chairs of trades and apprenticeship. “Float building is not something that's necessarily in our wheelhouse but we've been learning as we go.”
Chris Sine, a shop technologist at Conestoga College, oversaw the project and its design.
“I came up with the idea of the reindeer flying over top of houses, something that's normal on Christmas. And then I just was like: ‘I can build five houses.’”
The Kitchener Lions Club, which puts on the parade every year, said the Bank of Montreal paid for all the construction materials and each individual reindeer was sponsored by different local businesses.
The new reindeer on Santa's sleigh. (Courtesy: Christopher Sine)
“As you know, reindeer don’t necessarily exist here in Waterloo Region,” D’Alton said. “They've been coming in from all over, from Greenland to the North Pole, some from northern Canada. They all just had to be the right reindeer for Santa. We don't choose them. He chooses them. We arrange the sponsorship.”
Santa's old sleigh, alongside the frame for his new parade float. (Courtesy: Christopher Sine)
Santa’s sleigh is now the only original element on the float. Everything else, from the fresh snow to the reindeer, are all brand new.
There’s only one missing piece – Rudolph – whose bright red nose will lead Santa to Waterloo Region for the parade.
The Kitchener Lions Club Santa Claus Parade will make its way down the streets of Kitchener and Waterloo on Nov. 16, starting at 10 am.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'You couldn't open the door': Concerns over awareness of and access to Tesla emergency latch after 4 killed in Toronto, 5 killed in Wisconsin
When a Tesla crashed on Lakeshore Boulevard in Toronto last month, the first people on scene knew there were occupants inside but couldn't immediately get them out.
Overwhelmed families surrendering custody of their children to CAS
Overwhelmed families in Ontario are having to surrender their children to the Children's Aid Society, and according to the society, the residential crisis is part of the problem.
Trump's defence choice stuns the Pentagon and raises questions about the Fox News host's experience
President-elect Donald Trump stunned the Pentagon and the broader defence world by nominating Fox News host Pete Hegseth to serve as his defence secretary, tapping someone largely inexperienced and untested on the global stage to take over the world's largest and most powerful military.
W5 investigation How did thieves steal your car? Maybe with a device they ordered online
Digital devices that a Toronto-area police department warns are used in the most common method of stealing cars are for sale online for anyone to buy, a W5 investigation has found.
Trump's appointees have criticized Trudeau, warned of border issues with Canada
Donald Trump's second administration is filling up with some of his most loyal supporters and many of the people landing top jobs have been critical of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and security at Canada's border.
How are you preparing for a possible Canada Post strike? We want to hear from you
CTVNews.ca wants to speak to Canadians of all backgrounds, whether you're a parent, student, worker, professional or business owner, about their concerns regarding a possible Canada Post strike or lockout.
Japanese owner of 7-Eleven receives another offer to rival Couche-Tard bid
The Japanese owner of 7-Eleven says it has received a new management buyout proposal from a member of the family that helped found the company.
Loblaw Companies reports Q3 profit up from year ago, revenue also higher
Loblaw Companies Ltd. reported its third-quarter profit rose compared with a year ago, boosted by the reversal of a charge at its President's Choice Bank after a Federal Court of Appeal decision.
Injured hiker from southern Ont. rescued from Killarney Provincial Park by helicopter
An experienced winter hiker and their dog were rescued over the weekend by helicopter in northeastern Ontario after being reported missing from Killarney Provincial Park, police say.