

Chris Kitching, CP24.com





With Toronto’s municipal election just six months away, this year’s Easter parade in an east-end neighbourhood is open to everybunny, er, everybody but the politicians.

Elected officials and mayoral candidates are not invited to march in the April 20 parade hosted by the Toronto Beaches Lions Club because organizers want the focus to be on the event itself and families – not on the candidates who are campaigning for votes.

Parade director Keith Begley said the Lions Club is not affiliated with any political party and it has a tradition of involving politicians who represent local ridings or wards.

This is the first time the invitation has not been extended to sitting politicians, although the parade has never welcomed mayoral candidates, Begley told CP24.

Begley said Mayor Rob Ford’s office and representatives for mayoral candidates contacted organizers last week to find out if they could get a spot in the parade, but they were all told no.

A letter was sent to politicians a few weeks ago to inform them of the decision, which prevents them from using the event as a platform, Begley said.

Still, organizers cannot stop them from attending as spectators, he said.

Ford left with 10,000 Easter eggs

Ford told reporters he learned of the club's decision in a news report Tuesday morning and he hasn't received a formal "non-invite" notice. He said he previously received an official invite.

The mayor said he respects the decision and will not attend the parade.

"They don’t want to turn it political and I understand that. It’s a service club, it’s for the kids and I respect their decision," Ford said, as he hauled boxes of Easter eggs into his City Hall office.

Ford said he purchased 10,000 candy eggs last week and he planned to hand them out to kids at the parade, but he'll now donate them to the Lakeshore Lions Club instead and they can donate them to the Beaches Lions Club if they choose.

This is the first time the parade has been held since Ford’s crack cocaine scandal erupted almost a year ago. Ford said he doesn’t think the club’s decision has anything to do with him.

In the letter to politicians, Begley said elected officials have refused to abide by "parade regulations and directives" - including an order not to display signs - at past events.

“This year, after due consideration, our club has decided to return the Toronto Beaches Lions Easter Parade back to the community and families and make the parade a political-free zone,” Begley wrote in the letter. “Accordingly, we will not be extending invitations to any elected officials or politicians, nor will we accept any applications from them. It is our hope that this decision will lead to better and more family-oriented parade.”

Organizers say the parade draws 50,000 people to a stretch of Queen Street, east of Woodbine Avenue, every year.

Local councillor surprised by decision

Coun. Mary-Margaret McMahon, who is seeking re-election in Ward 32 (Beaches-East York), is an annual participant. She rides her bicycle along the parade route and gives packets of vegetable seeds to candy-seeking children.

McMahon worries paradegoers will notice the absence of politicians and assume they chose to skip the event.

The councillor spoke to CP24 reporter Jackie Crandles at City Hall on Tuesday and said she isn't sure of the reason for the club’s decision.

“The Lions do great work in our community and this comes as a little bit of a surprise because I love the parade and people expect their elected officials to be there,” McMahon said. “It’s a community parade and I represent the community, so I’m surprised.”

“There are children who expect the vegetable seeds and they’ll be disappointed,” she added.

The ban also applies to neighbourhood groups or others who are looking to make a political statement.

In an interview with CP24, MPP Michael Prue, who represents the Beaches area, blamed the conduct of Mayor Ford at last year's parade for the move.

"I witnessed him throwing candies into the crowds quite aggressively and a couple of the kids got hit," he said. "The parade organizers then came and told him not to do that and he continued to do it."

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