Santa Claus coming to town for Montreal parade with unexpected star fairy

Santa Claus is coming to town early – with Montreal’s 73rd annual Santa Claus Parade.

“We’re talking about elves, dancers, singers, you name it, it’s over 1,500 people that will be taking part in the Santa Claus parade itself,” said Glenn Castanheira, executive director of Montreal Centre-Ville.

The parade starts at 11 a.m. on Nov. 22. It will run along René-Lévesque Boulevard starting at Drummond Street and ending on Saint Urbain Street.

Castanheira says visitors will have lots to look forward to.

“We have L’Orchestrarium, which is a fantastic music show with a crazy professor and the Star Fairy this year, which is a tradition we have every year with a symbolic strong woman.”

This year’s star fairy is homegrown boxing champion and nurse Kim Clavel. She was crowned as the International Boxing Federation female minimumweight world champion earlier this fall.

“As a little girl, I always wanted to be a fairy. And now to be the star fairy at the Santa Claus parade. It’s something magical,” she says.

Clavel hopes to spread that magic and inspire others with her story.

“Two years ago, I had to start all over again because I was world champion and I lost my belt,” Clavel tells CTV News.

“I want to show to all those children that with perseverance, with resilience, you can do whatever you want in life,” she says.

With large crowds expected, the team recommends planning ahead on how to get downtown. There will be off-street parking spots available.

Sainte-Catherine Street West from Peel Street to De La Montagne Street will reopen on Nov. 17.

“That construction is now being halted. It will be open to traffic, open to pedestrians. It will resume in the spring,” Castanheira says.