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Story and a collection of printed and unprinted photos from "Dazzling Christmas display unveiled”
Mac Olsen
for South Peace News
As always, the Winter Light Up Nov. 27 was a great success, with eager children and families lining the main street for the parade and waiting to see Santa and Mrs. Claus.
The parade started at 6:45 p.m. The people, vehicles and floats assembled near the old water treatment plant on 52 Ave. Then, with two fire trucks leading the way, the parade made its way to the post office, turned left passed Burger Baron, left again onto the main street and ended in the Sports Palace parking lot.
Members of Royal Air Cadet Squadron No. 539, as well as the High Prairie police cadets, marched in the parade. Brian Holmberg acted as chauffer for Mayor Rick Dumont and Reeve Alvin Billings. Several businesses had floats in the parade, including Deerline Sales Ltd. and Fountain Tire, while the Church of Nazarene had a Nativity Scene float.
But the big stars of the parade were Santa and Mrs. Claus. They came at the end of the parade in a quad, waving and yelling “Merry Christmas!” to everyone as they did.
The light up took place at 7 p.m., with the mayor throwing the master switch to turn everything on. The mayor and Lesser Slave Lake MLA Pearl Calahasen praised all who worked for the event.
Later, everyone went to the High Prairie Fire Department for hot chocolate, cookies and to get their pictures taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus, including the Denty boys, Nathan and Kaidan. Each child also received a goody bag from Santa’s elves.
But the event wasn’t finished, as Tammy Kaleta held a bonfire across the tracks at de Signs by Tam, with hot dogs and hot chocolate part of the fare. High Prairie Truck and Trailer and the Church of Nazarene partnered with Kaleta, which included collecting wooden pallets for the bonfire.
Also, the Moonlight Madness was on, with businesses open late in the evening for Christmas shopping.
Alicia Boisson, the president of the High Prairie Beautification Society, is pleased with how things went.
“As a brand new committee, I felt the event went very well. I couldn’t ask for better committee members and volunteers this year,” says Boisson. “As the new president, I didn’t realize how much work there is and how many people contribute to it.”
She says the parade was very successful, with more floats than in past years. The turnout for Santa and Mrs. Claus wasn’t as high, but it was still a good turnout.
While this year’s Winter Light Up is over, planning for next year’s event begins in January 2009.
“We look to further improve for the whole Winter Light Up next year,” says Boisson. “We’ll start planning in January.”
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The Denty boys were very excited to have their picture taken with the merry old couple. Nathan, left, wants a Wii Fit device and Kaidan wants lots of toys for Christmas.
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Tammy Kaleta, left, and Crosby Rich toast the bonfire. It was held at de Signs by Tam and High Prairie Truck and Trailer and the Church of Nazarene collected wooden pallets.
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The Church of Nazarene had a Nativity Scene in the parade. Above, from left, are Heavenly Okemow as Mary, Dylan Gardner as Joseph and Hailey Gardner as an angel. Not show are Briana Lechance and Oakley Severson, who played the other two angels.
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Although they were the last in the parade, Santa and Mrs. Claus rode in style in a quad to the Sports Palace parking lot, receiving cheers from children and families along the way.
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Members of the High Prairie Royal Air Cadet Squadron No. 539, above, marched in the Santa Claus Parade. Members of the High Prairie Police Cadets also participated in the parade. It was the first appearance for both organizations in the annual parade.
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Santa and Mrs. Claus had lots of help at the fire department. Taylor Iwasiuk, left, and Jillian Payne passed out goody bags to children and information brochures to parents.
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These inflatable winter characters were set up near Santa’s Workshop. Inflatable characters such as a toy soldier and a snowman were put up in front of the town office.
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Deerline Sales Ltd. was one of several companies to have a float in the parade. Above are Eric Verstappen and his son, Roy Verstappen, who’s riding in a John Deere Gator utility vehicle.
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As always, Santa’s Workshop is elaborately decorated for the Winter Light-Up. The High Prairie Beautification Society and the Town’s public works department did the lighting.
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Brian Holmberg acted as chauffer for Reeve Alvin Billings and Mayor Rick Dumont for the parade. After the parade, Dumont thanked all who worked for the Winter Light-Up.
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Raymond Bastien of Reimer Foundations drove his company’s elaborately decorated cement mixer in the parade. It’s the company’s fourth year participating in the parade.
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