Who doesn’t love a parade?
Even if the inaugural Trucker n’ Trade Holiday Parade held on Salt Spring Island on Saturday night had turned out to be a low-key kind of affair, it surely would have been appreciated by the community.
But by many accounts, it was instead the best new event seen on Salt Spring in years, with more than 50 vehicles participating, dressed to the nines in lights and decorations of all kinds, with inflatable Santas, critters and presents among them.
How the arguably busiest people on the island managed to find the time to decorate huge vehicles for a parade is mind-boggling, but their heart was clearly in it.
One part of the heart was connected to honouring Rick Andrews, the born-and-raised Salt Spring Islander who died at far too young an age from cancer this past summer. A Rick Andrews Excavating Ltd. truck poignantly led the parade, and his fellow tradespeople and truck drivers, and members of the public attending, donated more than $5,900 to the Canadian Cancer Society in his name.
In promoting the parade, Jess Harkema of Windsor Plywood was quoted as describing the island’s trades as “a quiet backbone of our community,” and it’s true. Where would we be without all the people who build and maintain our houses, driveways, septic fields, gardens, vehicles and everything we need to stay warm, safe and dry? They deserve as much respect and gratitude as can be expressed by islanders who don’t have the skills or perseverance to do the jobs themselves; and the same goes for their families who both provide support and may not see their loved ones as much as they’d like due to the high demands of their positions.
Kudos to parade initiators Graham and Myriam Outerbridge of Fresco Refrigeration, their Chamber of Commerce partner — which has also made the season bright with a Holiday Light Up event in Centennial Park Nov. 28 and the successful Winter Wander on Friday night — and major supporters Windsor Plywood and Mouat’s Trading Co., and everyone else who participated or provided support in some way. It was a truly fun and illuminating gift to the community.
Christmas events continue with the Santa Ship arriving on Saturday afternoon, and many more happenings this weekend and throughout the month.