Beaches Easter parade to be ‘political-free zone’

Watch video above: Politicians banned from Beaches Easter parade. Alan Carter reports. 

TORONTO – Elected officials and even mayoral candidates are not wanted at this year’s Toronto Beaches Lions Club Easter parade.

Organizers recently released a memo to community members indicating that politicians of all stripes will be banned at the April 20th event.

Easter parade director Keith Begley told the Toronto Sun the group is concerned about how campaign tactics will affect the mood of the festivities and has called for a “political-free zone.”

Begley argues Lions Club members and volunteers found it hard in the past to manage politicians because “they don’t adhere to our rules” and often “raise their colours and signs” when asked not to.

Beaches-East York MPP Michael Prue, who has marched in the parade for the past 13 years, was shocked and appalled at the decision.

In an interview with Global News, he said organizers had issues with Mayor Rob Ford throwing out pieces of chocolate to children last year.

“I witnessed him throwing candies into the crowds quite aggressively and a couple of the kids got hit. The parade organizers came and told him not to do that and he continued to do it,” said Prue.

“If that’s the reason I got kicked out and my two colleagues, the municipal councillor and the MP, we did not do any of those things.”

“We hand out candy to the kids individually and we make sure we march in sync.”

Mayor Ford got word of the notice Tuesday morning and says he doesn’t plan on attending the event.

“If they don’t want us there, they don’t want us there,” Ford told reporters.

“Now that it’s an election year, there will be a lot of candidates there. It’s a service club. It’s for the kids. I respect their decision.”

Ford ordered 10,000 chocolate Cadbury Creme eggs in anticipation for the parade and had them carted into his city hall office Tuesday.

He said he hopes the Lions Club will take them as a donation.

Meanwhile, the politician ban also prohibits groups and lobbyists from making political statements.

The parade, which is expected to attract about 50,000 people, begins at 2 p.m. from Queen Street at Munro Park and ends at Woodbine Avenue.