Held last Saturday (Dec. 6), the parade was a tremendous success, with 31 entries and at least 100 children visiting Santa Claus at the Kinnaird Community Centre.

For a payment of items for the Russell Township Good Neighbours Food Bank, kids could have their pictures taken with Santa, resulting in a pick-up truck load being delivered to the depot in Embrun, said Fire Chief Bruce Armstrong.

As enthusiastic as any of the youngsters was Armstrong’s wife Joanne who, sitting on Santa’s knee, delivered a long Christmas list which had the chief looking a little perplexed.

The fire department and Lions Club joined forces after it appeared there might not be a parade this year due to the demise of the Russell Chamber of Commerce which organized it in the past.

With the parade mission completed, the department is thinking ahead to Christmas Eve when Santa will return to Russell to ride in style around the west side of the township aboard a fire truck with siren wailing at strategic moments, waving as he goes to good boys and girls watching from windows or from the end of laneways. Many are surprised when Santa calls them or their parents by name.

To get the assignment completed before children must be tucked into bed for the night, two trucks go out, one with Santa on board and another carrying one of his little helpers dressed for the occasion like the Big Guy himself.

This being the 30th anniversary of the annual event, Captain Duane Bourguignon said there are plans to put together a commemorative web page section looking at highlights of Santa Expresses past.

“We’re hoping that anybody with photos and anecdotes will come forward and we’ll use some of them in the project,” said Bourguignon who has helped organize the Express for the past 15 years.

His research has shown that, while some other North American fire departments are now doing similar Christmas Eve Santa runs, it remains a rarity and Russell was likely the originator.

While two Russell rigs are tied up with the Express, the Embrun Fire Department remains on call to fill in should an alarm sound… something which has never occurred in the history of the event.

Bourguignon said the department receives nothing but positive feedback from the Santa Express which creates lasting memories for Russell children of all ages.