Sunday was Santa's Arrival

This Sunday, Visual Arts Brampton participated in the Santa's Arrival Parade at Shoppers World Brampton. (See photos here.) In total, the Santa's Arrival Parade had an estimated 341 participants marching along, making music, singing songs, dancing, driving go carts, and all kinds of other spirited things. Hundreds upon hundreds of people lined the hallways of Shoppers World to watch this annual tradition. Groups in the parade included Brampton YMCA, Peel Regional Police, Salsa Con Clave, 114th Brampton Sparks, Melody Makers Theatre, Ontario Early Years Centre, 101st Brampton Girl Guides, the Knights of Columbus, Brampton Music Theatre, Traditional Explorers, the Alda Heniss School of Classical Ballet, 1st Brampton Sparks, 5th Brampton Beavers, Marina Soon Dance Group, a soccer troupe, 39th Brampton Sparks/Brownies, and the Chinguacousy Concert Band. The Peel Shrine Club brought their Go Cart Partol around the mall, and the Peel Children's Safety Village drove bikes and two mini-jeeps. Visiting characters included Toy Story 2's Jessie, Frosty the snowman, Dora the Explorer, a gingerbread man, Cinderella and Belle, Spiderman, and Rudolph. Wild Water Kingdom's hippo mascot Hugo also dropped by. Other entertainers included a band, juggler, stiltwalker, and tin soldier. As for us, six Visual Arts Brampton students dressed up with cardstock tube masks on their head, representing a ballerina, ninja, Ms. Claus, Batman, a nutcracker, and Little Bo Peep. (Thanks to volunteer Nick Moreau, the cost for VAB to participate was just $2.26.) VAB also had Star Fox (courtesy of artist Steph Czolij), Brampton Arts Council's Millie the Art Bug, and Pawsitive. Who's Pawsitive? She's the mascot of the Ontario Women's Hockey Association, an adorable and friendly dog meant to promote positive attitudes among among players. VAB discovered Pawsitive on the Brampton Thunder website, over a year ago. We appreciate the OWHA's generousity in lending their beloved pooch to our organization.