Watch above: Old Saint Nick was in Montreal today as the 64th edition of the Santa Claus parade kicked-off much to the delight of young attendees.
MONTREAL- Montrealers big and small huddled in rows along Ste-Catherine Street to greet jolly old St. Nick as he paraded by with his reindeer, officially kicking-off the holiday season.
The much anticipated parade, now in its 64th edition, delighted young and old alike featuring fantastical floats, lively musicians, daring acrobats, an Olympic star and, of course, Santa Claus himself.
The wind was blowing and the skies were gray, but Olympic skating superstar Joannie Rochette lit up the streets with her radiant smile and the promise of Santa to come.
PHOTO GALLERY: Montreal’s 64th edition of the Santa Claus Parade
The parade was first staged in 1925, under the patronage of Eaton’s. It was so popular that the company injected thousands of dollars annually into hosting the event. In 1955 the company spent a whopping $70, 000– half a million in today’s dollars.
Eaton’s made the decision to permanently cancel the Christmas extravaganza in 1969, citing bomb threats by the Front de libération du Québec (FLQ).
In 1995, Destination centre-ville, which represents more than 8,000 downtown businesses rekindled the much-loved parade. The group has kept the magic alive in the hearts of thousands ever since.
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