SANTA CLAUS ADDS FOUR CORPORATE ELVES TO WORKSHOP
By Adnews Staff
The 95th annual Toronto Santa Claus Parade will march through the city's downtown core Nov. 19 featuring the addition of four new corporate sponsors. This year's parade includes 26 floats, 24 musical marching bands, clowns, elves and Santa Clause himself. Joining a list of 24 corporate sponsors is Chevrolet Oldsmobile Dealers of Ontario, Eatons, Lipton and The Bay. It is the financial support of its sponsors as well as the parade's Celebrity Clown program that makes the Toronto tradition possible. The Celebrity Clown program was launched in 1983 allowing corporate executives, who have donated $1,000, be a clown for a day. Sunnybrook, Women's College Health Sciences Centre and Royal Bank Financial Group are also supporting this year's parade by selling red noses at subway stations across the city on Nov. 17 during the morning rush hour. A television spot is running on the Global Television Network highlighting the history of the event and promoting the upcoming parade. Global also broadcasts the parade across Canada the day of the event. Public relations for the Santa Claus Parade is handled by Shandwick Canada of Toronto.