Kitchener-Waterloo's Santa Claus parade cancelled due to COVID-19

The annual Kitchener-Waterloo Santa Claus Parade has been cancelled this year due to COVID-19.

"We think that it's just wise to cancel it now," Jack Bishop, past president of the Lions Club of Kitchener, said Wednesday. The parade is usually held in mid-November and draws thousands of people to Weber Street between Kitchener and Waterloo.

"Unfortunately, we don't know what else to do because the parade, it costs a lot of money to run the parade, and we have to have bands and all the rest of the things," he said, adding there's also costs to have police on site and to close streets.

"We don't know whether or not that's a wise thing to do financially as well as health-wise, of gathering crowds together."

The Lions Club was also planning the Citizen of the Year ceremonies in Kitchener, which now have also been cancelled.

Both events make the club money, which they use to fund community projects and events as well as the guide dog program, Bishop said.

"We're just having to cut back on all of that money that we give out each year because we don't have the income," he said.

Possible smaller event

Bishop says people have told the club they're upset with the decision to cancel the parade.

"I just don't know what we can do," he said. "I just think as far as health is concerned, I don't think there's any other way to deal with it."

Bishop says they are in talks with the City of Kitchener to do a smaller scale event with Santa. That could be a trip through city neighbourhoods, but final details are still being worked out and it's unclear what, if anything, they'll be able to do.

But he says they want to try to do something because so many families look forward to the parade each year.

"If we find something that's going to be acceptable to everyone, then we'll announce that at a later date," he said.