The Citizen, 2010-12-23, Page 25THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2010. PAGE 25.
Some families just aren’t built for
small Christmas gatherings and
many houses aren’t built for large
Christmas gatherings, so when the
numbers don’t work, there’s only
one option: take Christmas on the
road.
For Grey native Brad Knight, large
Christmases have been part of his
life for as long as he can remember.
He says that he remembers a few
early Christmas celebrations spent at
his grandmother’s home, but it
wasn’t long until the annual
gathering was too big for any home.
Knight’s father, Jack, comes from
a large family where he was one of
12 children born in Grey Township.
So when Jack and his brothers and
sisters began families of their own,
getting married and having children,
it was obvious that Christmas
couldn’t be confined to a house if
they wanted everyone to be involved
year after year.
The event’s planning duties were
passed from sibling to sibling for
years, with approximately 55 to 60
people making their way to the area
each Christmas.
The event was more often than not
held in Brussels, as much of the
family still lived in and around the
Brussels area.
There were, however, some
gatherings that were held in the
Listowel area at a local restaurant, or
at the Cranbrook Hall.
Five years ago, however,
organization of the Knight family
Christmas was passed down to the
younger generation, Brad’s
generation.
This is when the annual Knight
family Christmas took its current
shape, being held at the Brussels
Legion every year the night of the
Brussels Santa Claus parade.
The first members of the younger
generation to take control of the
planning were Brad and his cousin
Brenda Wheeler.
Every year, the organizers were
charged with the task of lining up
entertainment for the evening, which
had consisted of quizzes and other
guessing games in previous years.
Brad, however, along with several
of his cousins, decided that perhaps
preparing and entering a float in the
Brussels Santa Claus parade might
be a way to entertain everyone who
made the trip to Brussels every year.
He was right as the Knight family
float has become a hit. The
construction of the float has become
a true family event and the family
riding in the float has become one of
the highlights year after year for
both local and non-local family
members.
Knight says that entering a float in
the parade is a treat for the members
of the family who live in the area,
but for members who live in urban
centres such as Windsor, Torontoand Barrie, it is an opportunity to appear in a parade that they may not
Knight riders
Whether they’re from a small town or a large city centre, the Knight family float in the Brussels
Santa Claus parade has been a hit since the first award-winning float several years ago. Grey
native Brad Knight and his family enter their float into the parade and then celebrate Christmas
at the Brussels Legion with dozens of family members from both far and wide. (Photo submitted)
When Christmas can’t be confined to a house
Greetings from the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry
Back row, from left: David Baker, John Smuck, Jamie McCallum, Neil Warwick, Jamie Heffer.
Front row: Clerk Nancy Michie, Mayor Paul Gowing, Deputy-Mayor Jason Breckenridge.
519-527-0761
Bert & Carol Reinink & family
43079 Hullett-McKillop Rd.
R.R. # 4 Walton
And Landscaping
At this blessed time of year
we’d like to wish our
customers and friends a joyous
Christmas season.
We thank you for your
patronage and look forward to
seeing you in 2011.
TRI-COUNTY BRICK
1-800-265-7057•519-482-9622
279 BAYFIELD RD., CLINTON
Wishing you all the warmth of the holiday season,
with best wishes for the coming year!
Celebrating the Warmth of the HolidaysCelebrating the Warmth of the Holidays
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
Continued on page 27
WARM GREETINGS
AND BEST WISHES FOR A FIRE SAFE HOLIDAY TO ONE AND ALL.
THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
The Fire Department
of North Huron