Northern College Continues Holiday Tradition

**NORTHERN COLLEGE NEWS RELEASE**

Northern College is ringing in the holiday season through a longstanding tradition.

For decades College students, staff and Alumni have volunteered their time and resources to participate in the annual Timmins Santa Clause Parade, creating award winning floats year after year, a testament to the Northern spirit and hospitality of the communities we are proud to call home.

“It feels amazing because it puts us on the map, we’re a community College, but we’re so much more than that.” said Nicole Gingras, Alumni Development Officer. “Not everything we do needs to be confined in our four walls, we need to give back, we need to be a part of and at the pulse of the community.”

Countless hours go in to creating each and every parade offering and for staff like Gingras, each year is a challenge to best the College’s previous award winning offerings and contribute to the future success of Northern College students.

“It’s doing so many good things, it gets students involved, it boosts school pride amongst staff and students and it gives us the opportunity to pay it forward,” said Gingras. “The times that we have won, it has allowed us to create bursaries for students and then we like to donate or auction or return the display props to their owners. This year we want to donate to people who have a mission to deal with kids, otherwise, what am I going to do with all those toys?”

With the spirit of the season in mind, Northern College’s participation in this longstanding tradition is an avenue through which we can continue to contribute to our communities, not only economically, but culturally as well.

“Northern College prides itself in being an integral part of the communities it serves,” said college President Fred Gibbons. “Being part of this annual Santa Claus Parade is special because it contributes to creating a sense of goodwill throughout the community and putting smiles on the faces of the young and not so young.”

Following the parade, Northern College’s float will be dismantled and reassembled on campus, for students, staff and faculty to enjoy. Once the season has passed, the college would be pleased to donate the props to any local charity in need.