KENSINGTON, P.E.I. — The Town of Kensington is hoping to continue hosting its annual Christmas parade.
What the 2020 version will look like is unknown due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, but the town is hopeful an event will be able to go ahead on Sunday, Dec. 6, at 5 p.m.
Mayor Rowan Caseley told the regular monthly council meeting on Monday night that one possibility is a drive-thru parade.
“At this stage of the game, I think we are getting some positive feedback from some of the possible parade participants that they might be looking at doing something like that,” said Caseley. “We are limited in what we can do, but we would like to do something.”
Caseley said Credit Union Centre manager Robert Wood is working with the Kensington Lions Club on planning the event. Caseley acknowledged there is no doubt that this year’s parade will be smaller than normal.
Caseley said one possibility is lining floats up at the Kensington Business Park and having the public drive by to view them.
“Don’t take that as gospel, and it will be subject to change depending on what crops up,” said Caseley, who added three factors to be considered include easy access for the public, not holding up traffic and spreading out the floats properly.
Caseley’s report to the council noted an operational plan has been prepared and submitted to the Chief Public Health Office for approval.
The report also said plans are underway on how and when the official lighting of the town’s Christmas tree will take place. This usually follows the parade near the Kensington Train Station.
“At this stage of the game, I think we are getting some positive feedback from some of the possible parade participants that they might be looking at doing something like that. We are limited in what we can do, but we would like to do something.”
- Kensington Mayor Rowan Caseley
Food drive
Also at the meeting, Deputy Mayor Coreen Pickering asked if the town could still accept donations for the food bank in some manner during the parade.
Coun. Rodney Mann said the Lions Club is doing a drive-thru food drive on Saturday morning and may be able to offer some advice in this area.
“They will know how it’s done,” said Mann.
He added the public will enter off Gardens Drive by the Lions Club, drop their donations off and will exit at the other end of the parking lot near the daycare.
Caseley reported that due to COVID-19 the town is not planning on holding its annual Christmas staff dinner. Instead, he said, the town is looking at the possibility of giving each employee gift packs instead. He asked the council memers for their thoughts, and everyone was in agreement.
