Holiday parade all set
A few years ago at the Kahnawake Holiday Parade, this truck lit up the night and spread festive cheer! Courtesy Kahnawake Peacekeepers Facebook Page
After last year’s cancellation, the Kahnawake holiday parade is officially returning on Saturday, November 29, bringing renewed community excitement, and new accessibility features. Organized this year by the Kahnawà:ke Shakotiia’takéhnhas Community Services (KSCS) team, more specifically Corleigh Beauvais and Terry McComber, who are both part of the Primary Prevention team.
For many, the parade’s return represents a restoration of community tradition.
“Last year it was cancelled because we didn’t have enough floats. But our community really missed it. Our youth love coming out and watching the parade,” said Beauvais, Prevention Worker with KSCS. “We did get 22 floats this year, so it is a go.”
To make the event easier and more enjoyable, organizers have brought back a loop-style route used in earlier years.
“In past years it started at one end and finished at the other, and people were scurrying to try to find rides back to their vehicles. We thought it would be nice to put it into a circle as well,” she said.
The new route also ensures visibility for community elders. “We really wanted to pass the elders’ apartments and give that opportunity to the elders to see the parade through their windows,” she added.
A major addition this year is the creation of an inclusion hour from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m., exclusively for families and individuals with special needs.
The Force was strong at a past year’s Kahnawake Holiday Parade as the Star Wars float lit up the night with galactic cheer. This year’s parade is also packed with excitement. Courtesy Brady Cross
“It’s going to be an inclusive environment where it’s nice and quiet,” Beauvais said. “We’re going to make sure that if there are any really blasting lights, we’ll have them taken down, and the music won’t be too loud.”
The hour allows families to visit the floats at their own pace, access washrooms, receive giveaways, and participate without the sensory overload that can come with large public events.
Among the 22 registered floats are several key organizations, including the Kahnawake Fire Brigade, Tewatohnhi’saktha, the Kahnawake Court, Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, Connecting Horizons, MBC, Kahnawake Youth Center, Step by Step, Kahnawake Education Centre, K103, KSCS programs, and many more.
Connecting Horizons, a group dedicated to advocacy, accessibility, and social inclusion will also participate. Advocacy Program Coordinator Iris Phillips emphasized the significance of returning to the parade.
“Connecting Horizons is participating and collaborating with two other groups,” she said. “Collaboration with our friends from the Montreal Autism Lions Club and Free Food For All group were enthusiastic.”
For Beauvais, who is helping organize the parade for the first time, the work has been meaningful. “As prevention workers, we love to plan events for our community. It’s really nice to know that we’re bringing that holiday cheer back to the community,” she said.
She noted that the parade has always been a moment of connection:
“It’s just being together, standing out there together, enjoying time with your family, your friends. It’s really beautiful to see our community come together and just have so much fun.”
The parade will begin and end at the KSCS Services Complex, with the official start at 6 p.m.
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