Parade corporation exempted from “surprising” fees
- Ron Giofu
- 13 minutes ago
- 3 min read
The Amherstburg Santa Claus Parade is returning Nov. 22, and its organizers have gotten fees waived to help make it happen.
The fee request, however, was found to be a little “surprising” to the parade organizers but they are now exempted.
Windsor Parade Corporation executive director Maggie Durocher appeared before town council at its most recent meeting, stating that 2025 is the 18th year for the Amherstburg Santa Claus Parade.
“The Amherstburg Santa Claus Parade was voted, this year, best parade in Windsor-Essex through the ‘Best Of’ TWEPI Awards and we’re extremely proud of that,” said Durocher. “We’ve been building our parades with that in mind, to make sure it’s extra special this year.”
Durocher said the parade corporation spends a lot of time working on the details of the parade. She wanted to address town council on the report from administration regarding a noise bylaw and security deposit and while the report recommended exemptions, Durocher pointed out 18 years ago, the council of the day was approached about having a Santa Claus Parade.
“Many of us live here,” she said. “We thought it would be kind of fun to see if we can bring the parade to Amherstburg.”
Durocher said the Windsor Parade Corporation has never paid road closure fees, noise exemption fees or to rent equipment such as barricades.
“We’re not prepared to do that,” said Durocher. “We don’t do that in any other community, even Windsor. We have an MOU with the City of Windsor. They pay for barricades, they pay for noise exemptions, they pay for road permits and they pay part of our insurance.”
Telling council “this is your parade,” Durocher said if the corporation didn’t have the money to pay those fees and walked away, would other organizers have to pay for barricades?
“This is extremely surprising to me after all these years,” she said.
The corporation gets a sponsorship from the town, other businesses sponsor the parade as well “and we build you something special.”
“Parades lose money,” she said. “We don’t make money on parades.”
The Windsor Parade Corporation spends a lot of time “making sure they’re really, really good,” she added.
Councillor Diane Pouget told Durocher “you do an awesome job with that parade,” and asked if fees have been waived previously. Durocher said they have been waived in the past but they were being asked about fees for barricades, permit fees, road closures, and noise bylaw exemption fees.
Manager of licensing and enforcement B.J. Wilder said the town has a standard policy where everyone pays the user fees for road closures and noise exemptions.
“I can’t speak for what has happened in the past,” he said. “Ms. Durocher is 100 per cent correct. I was unable to find that they have paid in the past but there is no standing directive from council that these fees are waived at this time. Only council has the authority to waive the fees when a request is made.”
Wilder said “at this time, we make everyone pay” until there is a temporary or permanent exemption granted by town council.
The parade is “awesome every year,” but there is no direction from council for an exemption. Wilder said “rolling road closures” see money for closures returned, but closures for the entire duration of an event would not see the money returned, unless council waives the fees.
Councillor Peter Courtney said the Windsor Parade Corporation should be exempted from paying fees not just this year, but in years going forward so they don’t have to request it every year.
Councillor Molly Allaire wanted to be sure fees regarding barricades were included in the motion, which it was. Council agreed to the motion put forth by Courtney.
Parade corporation exempted from “surprising” fees
By Ron Giofu