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SYDNEY, NS – Joe Costello did not sleep well on Saturday night.
But it's not because the Santa Claus Parade in Sydney that he helped organize had had major problems. By all accounts, the annual event, which delighted thousands of spectators along its five-kilometer route, was a resounding success and went off without a hitch.
His dismay was caused by the tragic news that he heard when he returned home after the parade. Costello said that he had just entered the door when he learned of the death of a four-year-old girl who had fallen under a chariot during the annual Christmas parade at Yarmouth.
"As a parent and as an organizer, when I heard about the Yarmouth tragedy, it was absolutely devastating. It made me think about everything we did, "said Costello, recreation program coordinator for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality. .
"It's a very emotional time right now, but I think it's important that we take a deep look at what we do by eliminating emotions, making sure all our bases are covered and we do our best to protect. Participants and the public must ensure that everyone has a good time with this parade and other RCMP events for a long time. "
To this end, municipal officials and its recreation department are expected to meet during the week to discuss additional measures to consider to prevent incidents such as Saturday's tragedy in Yarmouth.
According to Costello, security is the top priority of the organizers. He added that strict regulations are already in place and strengthened so that operators and parade participants can register in the parade preparatory area.
He noted that the rules stipulate that persons on board a tank must be safely boarded and that their legs can not hang overboard, and that people riding on tanks are not allowed to board. go up and down. Costello also said that a special parade commissioner was going through the procession to verify that the rules, such as the rules "Prohibited from throwing candy" and other regulations, were respected.
"We also have members of the Cape Breton Regional Police Service on site," he said.
"We took them to the parade, we had a police officer on a motorcycle, we had another one on a bike, and we had more at key intersections, making sure there was no traffic problems and the parade rules are followed and the public is safe. "
However, Costello said the safety of everyone involved was a shared responsibility when it came to a big event like the parade.
"We do what we can do, but we also rely on parents and adults to be present and look after the children," he said.
First responder, Gerald Hazelhurst, said Santa's parade in Sydney was one of the safest. As a member of St. John Ambulance and the Red Cross, he attended hundreds of public events, including parades.
"I do not remember any serious problems in the many parades I've attended," Hazelhurst said.
"But that said, you have to watch the kids, just look at their eyes when Santa Claus is about to arrive, they are all excited and jump around."
Related:
• Community will show support for the girl family during Monday night vigil in Yarmouth
• Heartache in Yarmouth after the girl's death as a result of the tragedy of the Christmas parade
He also felt that adults create more dangerous situations than children.
"I have often seen adults crouch in front of a tank to get to the other side of the street – they do not think about it," he said.
"But the most dangerous part of the parade is when it's over – the traffic can be horrible, and some people seem to lose that Christmas spirit as soon as the parade is over and they can not wait to get out of there."
Meanwhile, the municipality's Santa Claus parade schedule continues on Friday in Louisbourg (7pm), Saturday at Reserve Mines (1pm) and Glace Bay (6pm), Sunday at Dominion (4:15 pm) and North Sydney on Saturday. December (18h).
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