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Santa convoy through Hope replaces 22-year sleigh ride tradition

Convoy through Hope’s neighbourhoods starts at 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12
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The route the Santa convoy will make this Saturday, Dec. 12, in lieu of the annual Santa sleigh ride event. (Submitted map)

Organizers of Hope’s Santa sleigh ride weren’t going to let this season go by without a tip of the hat to the 22-year-old tradition, yet amidst strict public health regulations they’ve decided to bring Santa on a convoy around Hope instead.

Hosted by Hope Towing for the past two decades, normally crowds would gather in Memorial Park to take a sleigh ride, meet Santa and drink some hot chocolate. To stay on Dr. Bonnie Henry’s and Santa’s nice list this year, Hope Towing and the Hope Lions Club are instead bringing a mask-wearing Santa on a convoy through town this Saturday, Dec. 12.

The Hope Towing Christmas Convoy will start at 6 p.m. Saturday from Hope Towing, heading into Silver Creek first, then onto downtown Hope and finishing at Kawkawa Lake.

Organizers are asking people not to gather to watch the convoy, instead they should stay in their bubbles and keep a physical distance. For those who won’t have Santa coming down their street, they are able to park on the route but organizers ask that people stay in their cars and park in a spot that won’t restrict traffic flow.

Santa won’t be stopping, yet he and the organizers are asking anyone who would like to to join in by yelling a good old “Ho, Ho, Ho”, waving and using noise makers. Dressing up is also encouraged, or getting creative by making a sign.

In years past, non-perishable food items were collected for Envision Financial’s full cupboard program. As the collection won’t be happening this year, organizers encourage anyone who wants to give to make a monetary or food donation to the Hope food bank.

Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email:
emelie.peacock@hopestandard.com


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