New Rotary club holding Holiday parades to spread cheer

By MO CRANKER on December 1, 2020.

The newly-formed Rotary Ignite Club is looking to spread Holiday cheer this December.

The club is holding its first events in the city on Dec. 10 and 17. Both days will play host to Christmas-themed drive-by parades.

Club member Karen Blewett says the convoys will spread cheer to those who need it most.

“Both of these are Thursdays and we’re going to be primarily going to seniors’ residences,” she said. “We’re also going to be going by the hospital. We’re going to be starting at 6 p.m. each night.

“Seniors are cooped up and can’t see much of their family and friends, so we wanted to focus this on them primarily.”

Each night’s convoy will feature vehicles dressed up in a Christmas theme.

“When the pandemic first hit people started those drive-by birthday celebrations and this will be very similar to that,” she said. “Instead of birthday themes, our convoy will feature Christmas decorations and lights on the cars.

“I know some of the members are going to get really creative with this.”

Blewett says members of the community are encouraged to join the convoy each night.

“People, businesses, organizations, everyone is welcome to drive with us and make this bigger and better,”she said. “We know communities around North America have done something similar and they have been quite popular.”

The Rotary Ignite Club’s convoy is its first event in the city, with more planned as the club grows.

“This is a new club in town,” said Blewett. “We’re still going through the process with Rotary Canada to become officially sanctioned.

“This isn’t a fundraiser or anything for us, we just want to raise community spirit and get as many people involved as possible.”

The club is finalizing the driving routes and will be posting them on its social media pages when finished.