For the 66th year, thousands of Montrealers gathered along Sainte-Catherine St. for the annual Santa Claus Parade.
This year’s event included 20 floats and featured hundreds of entertainers, musicians and of course, some familiar faces.
But out of all the special guests, there were a few that stuck out from the crowd.
50 sick children were brought out of Montreal hospitals for the day and transported to the parade, courtesy of Urgences-Santé.
“Some of them are so sick. But it’s one day of the year, the day of the year, that allows them to see the parade,” said Urgences-Santé spokesperson, Benoit Garneau.
Eight-year-old George Damyn Martin also known as Lil’ G, is one of those kids.
George was born without an immune system and has been in and out of the hospital since the age of one.
He and his parents are essentially living at Ste-Justine hospital, where George is currently receiving treatment.
So getting out for the day means a lot.
“It’s a positive atmosphere that just makes you feel better,” said his mother, Mallory Metallic.
“For a few minutes, you’re not in the hospital.”
They most certainly were not.
George and the other children were greeted by participants of the parade, received some candies and toys and even felt the chill of winter in the air.
But the winter weather only built up that cool sense of anticipation.
When asked what he’s most looking forward to, George quickly yelled, “Santa!”
And that’s because he had a list of things he wanted to tell him.
“I want leggo, playmobil – everything on my list,” said George.