On Sunday December 8, local businesses have a great opportunity to recognize the wonderful talent that exists within their walls (their employees, volunteers, members and talent), and to appreciate the reason for their existence in the first place (their clients, the great residents of Sooke).
The Sooke Region Chamber of Commerce is once again co-organizing the annual Santa Claus parade with the District of Sooke. The parade, according to Sooke historian Elida Peers, has been going on since 2001.
The event is free for all parade participants, although registration is required. Aline Doiron, the office administration at the chamber, said the chamber needs to know who is participating, how many people will be in that group, and whether or not there is a vehicle (or float) involved.
“It can be a bit of a marketing tool,” said Doiron, “a good opportunity to get your business name out there.”
It’s also a great food opportunity for kids, with a parade participants handing out candy and chocolate to the kids.
Randy Welters, the president of the chamber, said that the parade will go from the parking lot at Sooke elementary up to Sheilds with the final destination at the Sooke Community Hall on Eustace. There will be hot chocolate for the kids who were in the parade, and hotdogs will also be for sale.
The parade starts at 12:00 noon, and lasts for anywhere from 20 to 40 minutes, depending on the number of organizations involved.
Traffic detours will be in place for the duration of the parade, and the RCMP and a security firm will be assisting with the flow of traffic. Detour details will be provided closer to the date of the event.
Participants of the parade gather at 11 a.m.
Organizations can register to participate in the parade by contacting Aline Doiron, the office administrator at the chamber, either by email (info@sookeregionchamber.com) or by phone (250-642-6112).