There were several decorated floats which travelled through the village of Crysler during the 2023 Parade of Lights. After leaving the Crysler Community Centre, the floats travelled through the village with the parade ending near the Crysler Home Hardware. Included in the parade was a float carrying SDSG MP Eric Duncan and SDSG MPP Nolan Quinn, one from the Crysler Knights of Columbus and of course one with Santa! Thompson Goddard Photo
CRYSLER – It was a busy weekend at the Community Centre in Crysler with the annual tree lighting and vendor show during the evening of Fri., Dec. 8, and the community breakfast followed by the evening parade of lights on Sun., Dec. 10.
There is a lot of holiday spirit in this community, with a great turnout for the tree and gazebo lighting event on Friday evening. Described as the kick-off to a weekend of holiday fun and organized by a subcommittee of the Crysler Citizen Committee, Kim LeBruin explained there were local vendors with a free wine-tasting event sponsored by St. Albert Cheese and featuring wine from Mayfair in Crysler. Firefighters from North Stormont Fire Station No. 2 were busy cooking up hot dogs during the event, with children seen playing in the snow or enjoying the bouncy castle which was sponsored by Crysler Home Hardware. People were able to enjoy some warmth on the cold winter evening while socializing around an open fire.
On Sunday morning the annual Breakfast with Santa provided over 370 people with the opportunity to enjoy a full breakfast, perhaps purchase a sweet treat from the bake table of Our Lady of the Rosary Parish / Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire and have their picture taken with Santa by Carrie Couturier of CC Squared Photography.
Fast forward to early Sunday evening when the Crysler Community Centre was once again a busy spot. While people throughout the village began lining the streets in anticipation of the 2023 holiday parade, organizers were busy making sure last-minute details were in place so all could enjoy a happy and safe journey through Crysler. As the decorated fire engine sounded its horn the parade moved off very close to the advertised start time of 6:30 p.m.
A sincere note of thanks was extended to all who volunteered their time organizing the events over the weekend, those who decorated and drove the floats and to the police who at the many holiday parades ensured the safety of everyone.
Carolyn Thompson Goddard, grew up in Chesterville and attended North Dundas District High School. After completing her BA in Political Science at Carleton University she has worked as a medical secretary and library technician. In 2020 she graduated from Algonquin College with a diploma in Journalism and has been a reporter and column writer for The Chesterville Record for over 10 years.