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S&R wins Best Overall Float at Santa Parade
Strong teamwork and creativity help S&R take top honours with Grinch-themed design
12/17/2025
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Deron Hamel
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The Grinch may have famously failed in his bid to steal Christmas in Whoville, but he managed to steal the show on Dec. 6, taking top honours for Best Overall Float in the Sarnia Kinsmen Santa Claus Parade.
The award-winning entry was created by S&R Group team members, who built the float, based on the famous Dr. Seuss character, to represent the organization in this year's parade. It marked the first time the S&R Group has entered a float in the event since 2019.
Lots of time, dedication and effort goes into making every float the S&R Group has entered over the years, and teams are assembled many weeks before the parade to decide on a theme and get the work started.
The Grinch theme was chosen by group consensus, and the project brought team members together from across the S&R Group to collaborate in a different way.
“Working together with colleagues from many different areas of our organization was really fun,” Kim Van Dam, vice-president of Long-Term Care division, tells S&R Today.
“We got to work together in a different way that was actually really special.”
As the float made its way through Sarnia, team members had a chance to interact with parade-goers and showcase the S&R Group's spirit to everyone attending.
Residents from Landmark Village, one of S&R's Sarnia seniors living communities, also had a float in the parade using their shuttle bus, and residents rode along the entire route, singing carols and sending holiday wishes to the crowd, Kim notes.
Nicole Ross, S&R's corporate director of infection prevention and control, says the experience went beyond building a float; it strengthened the connection the S&R Group and its team members have with Sarnia.
She adds that both children and adults attending the parade “loved interacting with the Grinch walkers” – team members and family members dressed in Grinch costumes who walked alongside the float.
“Participating in the parade served as a heartfelt reminder of how fortunate we are to be part of such a special community,” Nicole says.
“Our team enjoyed the time spent together bringing this year's float to life, but the greatest reward came when we were finally able to share it with everyone along the parade route.”
Candace Vandermeer, Long-Term Care division administrative assistant, is another team member who worked on the float. She says earning top honours made all the long hours that went into the project worthwhile.
“After all the hard work and late nights spent planning and prepping every big and little detail of the float, it really felt like our efforts paid off when we found out we won Best Overall Float,” Candace says.
John Scotland, the S&R Group's CEO, served as creative director for the project and is thanking everyone for their participation.
“Special thanks to all those that had a hand in this year's float, from logistics and design to building it and tearing it down, as well as those team members and their families that dressed up to accompany us in the parade,” he says. “Also, a shout-out to John at John Ford Trucking for providing and driving the truck and the flatbed trailer.”
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If you have feedback on this story, please e-mail deron(at)axiomnews.com.
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