Organizers will try again this coming Sunday following postponement of the Santa Claus Parade for a most unusual reason—danger in the downtown near the end of the parade route.
Some kids shed tears when they learned of the postponement as, up to a few minutes before the start of the parade, everything looked perfect including the weather.
The sudden cancellation created a traffic jam, especially in the east of downtown with a convergence of floats, vehicles and people all leaving at about the same time.
The parade will go ahead this Sunday, December 3 at noon.
RNC Cst. James Cadigan
The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says the decision to postpone the Downtown St. John’s Christmas Parade was necessary.
Police spent most of Sunday on the scene of a weapons-related offence on Brazil Street that ended in three people being taken into custody.
RNC Constable James Cadigan says they took steps to contain the incident, but given the fact it was evolving, postponing the parade was in the best interest of public safety.
Cadigan says events are often unpredictable, especially when they involve weapons. Keeping people out of the general area was the best move in order to ensure safety if the situation were to escalate.
Cadigan acknowledges the difficulty of explaining these types of events to children. He recommends basing the conversation around the importance of public safety.
He says it’s important to explain that even when plans are in place, things can happen and things can change suddenly when there’s a risk to public safety.
Brazil Street incident. Photo courtesy of Kurt Maclellan
A resident of the Brazil Street area says incidents like the one that unfolded on Sunday are out of the ordinary.
Tammy Davis, whose home backs on to the property of interest, was caught up in the ensuing evacuation Sunday morning.
She told VOCM News that people often think of downtown as a “rough spot” to live, but she disagrees. She says the Brazil Street area is a relatively quiet place.
She says the home wasn’t a known problem in the neighbourhood. She calls the incident just as likely to happen there as any other quiet, residential street.
