Join Us to Celebrate Bill Schurman
This will be our second annual "I Light Sside" float in the Summerside Santa Claus parade -- but the first time we honour Bill.
Bill suggested SAFE hold this event last year. Little did we know it may have been one of the last community projects he got off the ground.
We will now honour the late Bill Schurman every year with this annual event that he brainstormed and thought would be a great fit for our organization and the community.
We would love to have people of all ages and abilities come join us.
Simply bring your favourite mode of active transportation (sneakers, scooters, bicycles, wheelchairs, skateboards, in-line skates, leap-frogging-kids, etc.) and decorate it with lights. You can wear a sports jersey to honour Bill's efforts at making Summerside a "Tournament Town." If you don't have a sports jersey, come anyway.
The event has the support of Bill’s family. Gloria Schurman, Bill's wife, says: “Bill was a strong believer in community as well as in active living, and he championed many active transportation projects in several communities over the years. He would be honoured to have his name attached to this kind of initiative, and we thank the committee for their decision to do so.”
| DETAILS | |
| DATE | Friday, December 1, 2023 |
| TIME TO MEET | Any time between 5 pm and 6 pm |
| LOCATION TO MEET | The Dome (across from the turf soccer fields on Willow Ave.) |
| PARADE LEAVES AT | 6 pm at Credit Union Place |
| PARADE ENDS | Between 730-800 pm at Memorial Square (89 Summer Street). Stick around for the Yuletide Village, firepits, treats, tree lighting, and hot chocolate. |
| WHO CAN COME | Anybody. Bring your favourite form of active transportation (walking or wheeling) and lots of lights! Don't have lights. We can find some for you! |
| TOTAL PARADE DISTANCE | 2.5 km (at a very slow pace) |
Thanks to Doug Carmody for taking the lead on this event, and all of the event committee!
Some helpful hints provided by Susan Naylor:
The Event poster for the Santa Claus Parade which will be organized by the Summerside Fire Dept for the second year in a row. It was a totally energizing and amazing time last year. The Yuletide Village, firepits, treats, tree lighting, hot chocolate . . . what more can you say but one-word FUN!!.
A couple of quotes from SAFE
Doug Carmody, Board Member of SAFE, and "I Light Sside" Planning Committee Chair: "With Bill’s encouragement, the parade is now a wonderful and fun community event that is helping Summerside develop safe, equitable, and sustainable active transportation for all ages and abilities.”
Ken Trenholm, President of SAFE: “I think Bill would really love the idea a grassroots group wants to honour his legacy. Bill came to me with this idea, thinking it would be a great fit between SAFE and the community. A fun way to bring people together. Something Bill lived every day of his life.“
